>> as they returned to washington this week, some lawmakers from both parties were talking about compromise to avoid the january fiscal cliff, showing a willingness to put spending cuts and revenues on the negotiating table. the white house warned that the uncertainty of potential tax hikes for middle-class taxpayers could hurt consumer confidence during the holiday shopping session. that could have a big effect on the economy. the washington post writes that the white house is ratcheting up pressure to avoid the fiscal cliff. on c-span tonight, we will bring you some of the house and senate debate from august of 2011, when congress passed the budget control act that triggered cuts to take effect on january 1.

we will also hear from president obama, who signed the deficit reduction measure into law, part of the deal to raise the debt ceiling. first, senate majority leader harry reid and republican majority leader mitch mcconnell will talk on the senate floor about the january fiscal deadline. >> since our country voted to return president obama to the white house, i have spoken often about compromise. i remain optimistic that, when it comes to our economy, when it comes to protecting middle-class families from a whopping tax hike, republicans and democrats will be able to find common ground. president dwight eisenhower, a republican, once said, "people talk about the middle of the road as though it were unacceptable. there have to be compromises. the middle of the road is all

usable space." so said white house and higher. -- dwight eisenhower. too often, we face off, not realizing that the solution rests somewhere in the middle. i remind everyone of one fact. this congress is one vote away from avoiding a fiscal cliff for middle-class families and small businesses. we can solve the greatest economic emergency facing the nation today if only the house would consent the senate-passed bill freezing -- freezing tax rates. as thomas jefferson said, "we should not put off tomorrow what we can do today." our legislation would give economic certainty to the middle class, protect important tax reductions for families and businesses, and restore balance

by asking the most fortunate among us to pay a little extra to reduce the debt. also, the only bill with a chance of being signed into law by president obama. speaker boehner once again urges us to pass the house bill, extending tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. the senate has already consider that bill and we rejected it on a bipartisan basis. for the speaker to say, bring it up, we are behalf. it was loaded down in this congress. -- it was voted down in this congress. the president has spoken. he will not sign until the mortgages our future to pay for handouts. i hope house republicans have been listening. i also hope my colleagues, republicans and democrats, members of the house and senate, use the thanksgiving break not only to give things, but reflect on the monumental path ahead. i hope they took time to reflect on the effort needed to complete these tasks.

as white howard said, there will have to be compromises. seeking the middle of the road is not just acceptable, it is the only way forward. >> as a modem -- as most americans know by now, the next few weeks are critically important in the health of our action. unless the president leaves and congress acts, the promise of tax hikes and spending could go into effect. it will have a devastating effect on our painfully slow economy. what is more, the nation's finances are teetering on the edge, threatening greater hardship for millions unless we bring federal spending into balance. the question is, what are we going to do about all this? how do we face up to fiscal irresponsibility and can-kidding that got us here and what is right for the country.

it is not a secret that, for our part, republicans have shown a clear willingness to make tough choices in order to find a solution to the $1 trillion deficit over the last four years. we have been open for revenue by closing loopholes as long as it is tied to if spending cuts and pro-growth reforms. this is the model way out by the balsams and commission. -- bowles-simpson commission. we put skin in the game and with recognition of the fact that, while democrats do not run this town, neither do we. we have been responsible even as we remain firm on this point. no tax cuts for -- no tax raises for spending cuts that will not materialize later. americans have seen that game before and there will not be fooled again. the only balanced approach is one that includes real and

lasting reforms. republicans have stepped out of our comfort zone. we have been clear about what we will do and what we will not. yet we remain at an impasse. leading us to ask, why? because a vocal minority on the hard left continues to argue to leaders on their party from the president down the democrats in washington should do absolutely nothing about short-term or long-term spending problems. this is the thelma and louise crowd that wants to dream about high taxes and bigger government that it will pay for, regardless of the impact on jobs or the economy or america's standing in the world. these are the ones who have recklessly ignored the fact we cannot keep running trillion dollar deficits every year. somebody suggests that maybe the taxpayers should not keep subsidizing every last program.

their reckless and idiotic approach threatens our very future. anyone who is serious about solving the problems we face should ignore all of that, starting with the president. the election is over, but the economy and fiscal problems of the past several years have only gotten worse. it is time for the president to present a plan that rises above these reckless and radical voices on the hard left, that goes beyond the talking points of the campaign trail, and that has a realistic chance of passing the congress. the time for campaigning is over. it is time for the president to lead. a little over a week ago, i attended a meeting with the president at the white house that was positive and productive. afterwards, i was confident that all sides were eager to figure out a solution to the challenges.

as i've said repeatedly, the only person in america who can make or break it is the president himself. he is the only one that can lead his party to do something they would not ordinarily do, to do what is actually needed now, and that is why he has to present a plan for success. we will continue to weigh on the president and hope he has what it takes to bring people together and forge a compromise. if he does, we will get there and it will be done. if not, we want. is that simple. >> congressional quarterly says that the white house remains hopeful that the fiscal cliff will be avoided, despite the comments we heard from senator minority leader mcconnell that the talks ran at an impasse. next, we take you to the august 2 done 11 house debate of the budget control act. the measures set up automatic spending cuts and tax increases. it passed by 259-16.

>> we have missed an opportunity for a grand bargain. for months, others have looked to america and said, is this a nation that still pay their bills? we would do the unthinkable and default on our obligations. we are a more responsible and honorable mission than that. we are only at this point because the far right wing, for the first time in american history, has chosen to hold our economy hostage in order to enact the radical, ideological agenda for out of step with the majority of americans. these months have shown the american people who foot -- who puts our country's welfare first and who would rather have

ideological purity at all costs. i am voting for this bill. not because i like this bill, although it does do some things that i think need to be done. we need to bring down the deficit, address the debt, return to fiscal responsibility. but the fall for the united states of america -- default for the united states of america is not an option. this would affect all of the people that i represent and all of the people of this country. at the very least, this bill averts that outcome by paying our bills through 2013, which will bring certainty to a struggling economy that badly needs it. this bill cuts spending by $1.20 trillion and establishes a precedent to arrive at additional spending cuts.

hopefully, the bipartisan committee will accurately reflect the priorities of this nation. we are here because we missed a great opportunity. may i have one additional minute? the chance to pass a truly balanced agreement that relies on both spending cuts and revenue. we are not there. but i have said many times during the course of this debate, to govern is to compromise. not to sell out, as some people think on this floor, that voting for a compromise is somehow a sellout. we cannot run america on that theory and that is not what democracy is all about. i urge my colleagues to ensure that america, in fact, pays its bills. >> i will yield my friend additional time if i would like. >> i think my friend freely. i would like to compliment him. i close the rule of debate by

talking about the competitive -- the connecticut compromise, which established a bicameral legislature. it was called the great compromise. my friend is right. we are at that point today, dealing with an issue not of that magnitude, but clearly and one of importance. i'm happy to yield him an additional 10 seconds, 15 seconds. >> one minute. >> his time is expired? i will yield 45 seconds to my friend. >> ladies and gentlemen, i have said numerous times during the course of this debate about whether america was going to pay its bills. we need to vote, not as republicans or democrats, but as americans. americans concerned about the fiscal posture of their country. concern about the common as the people around the world have been the american dollar.

it is, after all, the standard of the world. that is what i think this vote is about. it should not be about partisan politics and very frankly, it should not be about ideological extremes. it ought to be about responsibility. it ought to be understanding our oath of office is to preserve and protect the united states of america. this bill does that. vote yes. >> the gentleman from california has two minutes remaining. >> speaker, i feel very honored to follow my good friend and classmate and distinguished democratic whip as we talk about this compromise and where we are. mr. speaker, saving social security and medicare is a priority that i believe both political parties share, contrary to much of what has been put out there. it is something to address in this measure.

we are going to be able to save social security and medicare. creating jobs -- democrats and republicans talk about that. how is it that we will be able to do that? getting our fiscal house in order is a very important step in our quest to ensure that the people who are hurting and looking for jobs will have an opportunity to get them. sending a positive signal to the global markets that we are the world's economic, military, and deal political leader by increasing the debt ceiling, we are sending a positive signal that we will continue meeting our obligations and responsibility. at the same time, dramatically reducing spending, the problem that has gotten us to this point, is what we're doing for the first time ever. after 75 times increase in the debt ceiling, we are finally getting to the root cause. the problem is our debt. we are going to turn a corner on that in a thoughtful and balanced way. mr. speaker, i want to

compliment the president of united states. i want to complement the leaders of the senate, harry reid and mitch mcconnell. i want to congratulate speaker john boehner, who has done a phenomenal job of ensuring that we would continue business as usual. i want to congratulate minority leader posey forever that she has put in, getting us to the point we are today. i urge my colleagues to support this measure. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. >> the chair now recognizes members from the committee on ways and means, chairman mr. camp from michigan and ranking minority member mr. levin from michigan. the gentleman from michigan. >> i yield myself such time as i may consume. >> it is recognized. >> if the congress does not act and act now, america will default.

that would wreak havoc on our economy and make it harder for americans to find and keep a job. edfault cannot be an option. i am pleased that the bill before us ensures that will not occur. just as it would threaten economic health, so would increase in taxes. raising taxes on families and job creators would hinder investment, increase the cost of doing business, and result in even less hiring and fewer jobs. that is the wrong direction when we are struggling with an agglomerate of 9.2% and 14 million americans looking for work. the good news is that the legislation before us recognizes these basic facts. it was a default. it makes sure the government pays our bills and does not increase taxes. some of the joint committee could pave the way for tax increases. that is not going to happen. the committee structure, the baseline it will work off, and the fact republicans are in the

majority in the house, guarantees that tax rates will not go up. furthermore, this legislation forces washington to make serious changes to the way it spends taxpayer dollars. there are real budget reforms. there is a path to a balanced budget amendment. there are automatic spending cuts if congress does not rein in spending on its own. i applaud the efforts of those that helped craft is agreement, especially speaker bonner and leader cantor. i urge my colleagues to recognize this opportunity to fix what is broken in washington and significantly cut runaway spending. i urge a yes vote and reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman from michigan. >> i now yield two minutes to my friend, and most distinguished member of the ways and means committee for a long time, the gentleman from new york.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. i stand on this floor as an american and person who loves this congress so much. i am embarrassed that the president of the united states would have this domestic and foreign policy actually held hostage. with him and only him and no other president have we decided that we would almost put in jeopardy the fate and the fiscal responsibility of this country paying its debt. a lot of people have said that we got to a $14.40 trillion debt because we got drunk and spend money like a drunken sailor. if that is so, the people having a hangover are certainly not the wealthy people in this country. this decision was decided without any consideration of the people that are longing for jobs in our great country. if the republicans had to hold

the president hostage, i wish that it would have held him hostage during the questions that my constituents wake up in the morning and ask, not whether or not the debt ceiling has been risen, but how can i get a job? how can i really get back my dignity? how can i put food on the table? these are issues that you do not resolve by cutting spending, causing people to lose their jobs and hope. indeed, i am glad that we're not going to default. in the days ahead, we ought to spend some time talking about what most americans want, that is a fair tax system where the wealthy, who have gained so much during this spree we have had, and not allow the hangover to be with people who are jobless. we still have time to close this responsibility that we have, to close the debt that we have, not

by laying on people and cutting programs during a recession, but by thinking how we can train people, how we can research, and how we can get our people back to work. >> i yield two minutes to a distinguished member of the ways and means committee, the gentleman from new york. >> $14.40 trillion. $1.60 trillion every year added on to the national debt. the people in november of 2010 spoke loudly. we are listening. it is time that we, in this chamber, accept the fact that d.c. past due and will change. the american people have spoken loudly. they want us to get our fiscal house in order. they want to bring certainty to the american market so we can invest in this great country

again and put people back to work, not only for this generation, but for generations to come. i rise in support of this legislation. it is not the cure all, it is not the one battle that will win this war on our national debt, but it opens us up on a path to where we need to be firmly dedicated and disciplined to carry on this battle and the battles to come. i ask all my colleagues, let us governor responsibly, let us avoid default, but continue on this battle and continue on we will. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. >> i now yield 1.5 minutes to another distinguished member of our committee. >> mr. speaker, i rise in

support of this agreement. this is a lousy way to run our great country or rebuild a world-class economy. i support it because the alternative is unacceptable. defaulting on our nation's obligations for the first time in our nation's history, doing so would be the greatest unforced error ever committed in the history of our country. it is all political. the performance of this congress the last couple of months leaves a lot to be desired. if king solomon was alive today, his metaphorical solution would be to kill both women and spare the child. if we are to achieve true fiscal solvency for our country, there are three things that need to happen. we need to invest in our future, grow the economy. you do that by investing in education and job-training, scientific research, and the infrastructure upgrade our nation needs. broadband expansion is not happening right now. it will not under this agreement.

we need to look for smaller savings in the budget, starting with changing the way we pay for health care so it is based on the value and no longer the volume of care that is given, by getting rid of outdated weapons programs. the pentagon keeps telling washington, stop appropriating money for this. they are not asking for it and they do not need it. money going to large businesses with mailing addresses in new york, chicago, and san francisco, not even to working families. finally, we need tax reform. that is fair, asking the wealthy to contribute their fair share. i support the agreement and i encourage my colleagues to do so as well. >> the gentleman from michigan, mr. levin. >> i now yield one minute to the distinguished chairman from tennessee. >> thank you.

i have voted twice to raise the debt ceiling. in may, i voted with about 90 other people. i voted this past weekend for leader reid's program. i cannot vote for this program. the first series of cuts we know, the second we do not know. i fear is a toad -- a trojan horse. that is an odyssey and journey that this country should not have to traverse. this country has been taken to this point by a group of ideologues that do not like government, want to reduce it, are reducing it, want to hurt the unemployment figures to heard the president of the united states. i do not want to hurt him. as louis brandeis said, the dangers lurk by men of zeal, well-meaning but not understanding. i yield back the balance of my time.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. we should never have gotten to the point where our troops in afghanistan had asked whether they were going to be paid. that is a scandal. it is scandalous that our republican colleagues would threaten, for the first time in american history, to torpedo america's credit worthiness and american jobs unless they succeeded in enacting a budget plan to end the medicare guarantee, slash medicaid and critical investment in our future. that was the plan. they wanted to do that now. they want to have this whole debate again six months from now. why? not to reduce the deficit. if the goal was to reduce the deficit, why refuse to end taxpayer subsidies for the oil companies?

if reducing the deficit was the purpose, why refuse to and special breaks for corporate jets and the folks at the very high end of the income scale? that was not the plan. the plan was to use this moment to threaten the economy, to try and slash the social safety net and those critical investments in education, innovation, and our future. guess what? they failed to do that. they failed to end the medicare guaranteed. they failed to slash medicaid, education. in this measure, we succeeded in protecting medicare and social security beneficiaries. we succeeded in protecting seniors in nursing homes, individuals with disabilities, and poor kids who depend on medicaid for their health care. we succeeded in providing room for critical investments in education and america's future. do not get the wrong, mr.

speaker. there is much in this plan i do not like. we did not succeed in shutting down special interest tax loopholes that add hundreds of billions of dollars to our deficits. our republican colleagues refused to cut those subsidies for big oil companies. they refused to cut the others. now we will have a great debate about how to grow the economy and reduce our long-term deficit. it will be a debate about our national priorities. i hope we will support the balanced approach. i have very limited time, i am sorry. one that refuses to put greater burdens on medicare beneficiaries in order to provide greater tax breaks to the wealthiest americans. in the coming months, our republican colleagues will be given the following test. will they choose to protest special-interest tax breaks over investments necessary to keep our nation strong and secure? will they finally demonstrate a

willingness to pay for our national defense, rather than put it on the credit bar? mr. speaker, let's get on with the big national debate and finally focus on jobs and getting the economy going as we reduce our long-term deficit. thank you, mr. speaker. with that, i reserve the balance of my time. >> the jaume and from wisconsin. -- the gentleman from wisconsin. the gentleman from wisconsin reserves the balance of this time. the gentleman from maryland. >> i yield one minute to the gentle lady from wisconsin. >> thank you so much for yielding. so many of my colleagues have said that it was necessary to storm the white house and take the country hostage in the name of their grandchildren. i wanted to go on record talking about what i want from my grandchildren. i want head starts for my grandchildren. i want to early childhood

education. i want my kids to go to a school where they can participate in the science fair. i want immunizations for them. i want research done for food safety to make sure this chicken nuggets are safe. i want clean air and clean water for them. i want jobs where they invent things like new energy sources. yes, i want them to be contributing citizens and pay taxes. i want a safety net for them in case they are disabled. and when they become elderly. and if they get cold in the cold winters of wisconsin. i want my grandchildren to get the american dream. i yield back. >> the gentleman from wisconsin. the gentleman reserve the balance of this time. the gentleman from maryland. >> thank you. i yield one minute to the gentle lady from california. >> thank you for yielding and

also for your very bold and effective leadership, mr. van hollen. i rise in strong opposition to this unbalanced debt ceiling bill. this is an unbalanced approach. we know that. we have heard that. furthermore, this debt ceiling bill should have never been an option in terms of having to come to this floor to debate this. we should have, like democratic republican presidents have done in the past, we should have lifted the debt ceiling. rightfully so, many of us are concerned about these discretionary cuts. what are these cuts going to do as it relates to our senior citizens, low income individuals, and the port? -- the poor? this bill does nothing to address the real crisis in our country, jobs and economic growth. at a time when investment is

needed to jump-start our economy and put people back to work, this deal is the wrong approach. it is an outrage that we could not raise the debt ceiling by voting for that. thank you again. i intend to vote no on this bill. >> the gentleman from wisconsin reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from maryland. >> i yield one minute to the gentleman from new jersey, who has been a fighter in this battle. >> mr. speaker, what brings us together is the need to create jobs for the american people. there are three things we have to do to create jobs. the first is not fall off a cliff and have a default on our national obligations. this bill accomplishes that. the second thing is to make sure we have an interest rate environment so that our businesses and entrepreneurs can create jobs so they have some

predictability by making a 25- 30% down payment on reducing our deficit in a fair and equitable way, this bill does that. finally, most of us agree that we need investments in our education, research and development, infrastructure, other activities to create jobs in our private sector for our people. by making sure that, at least in the first two years of this agreement, that the reductions in those areas are nonexistent or moderate, i think we give ourselves the freedom so that our appropriators can put valuable investments forward in that way. this is a well-reasoned, bipartisan agreement to create jobs for the american people. i urge a yes vote. >> the gentleman from wisconsin yields the balance of this time. >> the gentleman from maryland. the gentleman from maryland has two minutes remaining and the gentleman from wisconsin has four minutes remaining.

>> i yield myself one minute. mr. speaker, as i said at the outset, we should never have reached this point in our country. we should never have reached the point when our troops whether they were -- wondered whether they were going to get paid or whether individuals on social security wondered whether they would see their earned benefits. that should never happen. this is the first time in history the we have seen -- that we have seen members of this congress threatened to close down the american economy unless they got their particular budget plan through, one that ends the medicare guaranteed, slashes medicaid, and would deeply cut investments in education and innovation. we protected those investments in this bill.

the plan did not work. it did not work now. the plan to do it again six months from now did not work. now we will have the great debate over our priorities. we are looking forward to it. let's get on to talking about jobs and the economy. with that, i yield one minute to the very distinguished democratic leader, who has been a fighter for america's priorities, ms. pelosi. >> thank you, mr. speaker. i thank the gentleman for yielding. every chance i get, i want to salute him for his tremendous leadership as the top democrat on the committee for the work he did with the bipartisan talks. the american people want a balanced, bipartisan, fair agreement to lift the debt ceiling and take america forward. unfortunately, that did not happen.

what did happen and it brings to mind the taxes central question, why are we here? i would divide that question into why are we here and why are we here today? we are here because all of us in this body care about our country, have decided that public service is a noble pursuit, and we have come here to make the future better for future generations. that is what our founding fathers visualized for america, that every generation would take responsibility to make the future better for the next. that is why, mr. speaker, our founders, in addition to writing are finding -- our founding documents, the declaration, the date -- the great declaration which embodies fairness and equality, and in

the constitution, they declared independence, fault the greatest naval power in the world, they won, they wrote the constitution and the bill of rights, making us the freest and greatest nation in the world, grounded in the principle of respect that all people are created equal. that has never been done in the history of the world. when they did that, as i have told you before, because i love it so much, they also created the great seal of the united states. the great seal of the united states has on it novus order secorum. a new order forever. so confident were our founders and their idea about generational responsibility, they were confident that what they were putting forth would exist for the ages. for the ages.

that was the challenge they gave us. that is the responsibility that we have. and for a couple of hundred years or more, that has always been the case. every generation has always believed that it would make the future better for the next, for their children and grandchildren. we are here today because we believe that and we believe that the public policy that we put forth, the legislation we put forth, should result in public policy that makes the future better for our children and our grandchildren. we are committed to their education, the economic security of our families, a dignified retirement of our seniors, including my being a senior and safety and security of our neighborhoods and country.

and that we would do it in a fiscally sound way that does not give our kids any bills, public or personal. if we believe all of that and that is why we are here in congress, it is hard to believe that we're putting our best foot forward with the legislation that comes before us today. i am not happy with it, but i am proud of some of the accomplishments contained in it and that is why i am voting for it. that takes me to the second question -- why are we here today? why are we here today? within 24 hours of our nation going into defaault. after months of conversation after how we would address the debt ceiling, not to pass future spending, but to pay our future obligations.

i will say that time is one of the most important commodities any of us have, the most precious, the most finite. during that period of time, when our country could have been more productive, more optimistic, more confident in the tradition of our founders, instead, a cloud of doubt because of the delay in lifting the debt ceiling. as my distinguished colleague, mr. van hollen, said, this has never happened before. we have never tied the hands of a president of the united states. we never placed any doubt in the public as to whether this would happen. we never had people around board room tables wondering if we knew the consequences of our own actions. but i am concerned about the board room table. i am more concerned about the kitchen table. this delay and uncertainty has a

tremendous impact on america's families. they stood around the table and talk about how they're going to make ends meet, how they are going to pay their bills. his social security going to be taxed for them? will their checks arrive when they do? is medicare or medicaid something they can count on? after months and months to reach an agreement that could have been reached a long time ago -- it is not so great that it took so long to achieve -- it could have been accomplished months ago. at least have the merits of instilling confidence earlier, sooner, rather than at the latest possible moment. we must make sure that we are -- as we say, why are we here today? that we are not here some other day to go through these motions. that is another reason why i am supporting this bill.

the president was successful in impressing upon the congress that we needed the full time, the 18 months, so that people sitting around the americans kitchen table and the board room table, will all know that you can rely on the united states of america to meet its obligations. another reason to support this bill, even though there are plenty of reasons not to, is that it stops cuts in social security, medicare, and medicaid. this is the most important assignment given to democratic leadership, going to the table. make sure there are no cuts in benefits is medicare, medicaid, and social security. that was achieved. another issue of importance to us is that as we protect and defend our country, we measure our strength in the health,

education, and well-being of the american people. we have a 50-50 split between our expenditures for defense and expenditures for strength defined in other ways for our country. these are some reasons why those who may have the luxury of not wanting to vote for the bill, i feel a responsibility to do so. we cannot, because of certain objections in the bill, and one of the main ones is there is not one red cent coming from america's wealthiest families and most successful people. god bless them for their success. i know that they are willing to do more. not one red cent coming to help reduce the deficit while we are willing to cut title one education for the poorest children in america. that is too bad for those children. it is terrible for our country.

again, you can make a list of things in the bill that we do not like and things that are not in the bill, like revenue, but i urge my colleagues to think about our seniors and the 18 months and what that means in terms of confidence in our society and what it means to have the 50-50 in terms of defining the strength of america. we cannot, despite reluctance to vote for this bill for some of us, allow america's seniors and veterans, who are depending on receiving their checks from the government or their security overtime, we cannot allow our seniors and veterans to be caught in the collateral damage of the assault on the middle- class that is being waged in this congress. this is one manifestation of making it harder for the future so the great middle-class, which

is the backbone of our democracy. if we're going to honor the bows of our founders -- vows of our founders and carry on their hope for the future, that we would last for ages, but we would last for ages as a democracy, not an ever-broadening disparity of income and equity that undermines that democracy. please, my colleagues, if you are on the fence about this, i certainly am and have been even though i worked very hard to support the president in preserving what i said about no cuts to medicare, medicaid, social security about the 18 months and the 50-50 split. please think about what could

happen if we defaulted. please come down and favre -- please come down in favor of preventing the collateral damage from reaching our seniors and veterans. i urge you to consider voting yes, but i complete the respect the hesitation that members have about this. again, i want to commend mr. van hollen and the president of the united states, and those who tried to work in a bipartisan way to accomplish something. i hear their republican colleagues have said they got 98% of what they want in the bill. i hope that their votes will reflect that. with that, i yield back. [applause] >> the gentleman from maryland's time is expired. the gentleman from wisconsin has four minutes remaining.

>> i will yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas. >> i thank the gentleman for yielding. >> the american people want more jobs and they want less debt. the american people are telling washington you have got to quit spending money you do not have. you have got to quit borrowing 42 cents on the dollar, much of it from the chinese, and send the bill to our children and grandchildren. our crisis today is not the debt ceiling, it is our debt and it is a spending-driven debt. that is why we are here today, mr. speaker. i would like to say that this bill solves our problems. it does not. it is a solid first step. nobody, nobody on our side of the aisle, wants to increase this debt ceiling. it is not in our dna.

we do believe that, ultimately, you ought to stay current on your bills. you've got to quit spending money you do not have. in this bill, although the sums are very, very small, when we pass this bill, if the president signs it into law, it will be the first time in my lifetime, the first time in my lifetime, that for two years in a row, we have actually cut discretionary spending in washington d.c. and made a very slight direction of change in the right direction. the numbers are small, the directional change is huge. more importantly, the seeds of the ultimate solution are planted in this bill. that is the balanced budget amendment to the constitution. the american people are not looking for a balanced approach. they're looking for a balanced

budget. to have it work, it needs to be enshrined in our constitution. this bill will ensure, for the first time in 15 years, both the house and the senate vote on a balanced budget. those are the seeds of solution to save the next generation of this country. i urge adoption of this bill. >> i will yield myself the remainder of the my time -- of my time. from this debate, it is clear that we have a difference of opinions, different philosophies on how to address these issues. we are coming to a deadline that we all must recognize, deefault. what this has done is brought our two parties together. i would like to take a second to reflect for a moment, the fact that we have a bipartisan compromise here. it does not happen all that often around here, so i think it is worth noting. that is a good thing.

first off, as my colleague from texas has just said, this is a downpayment on the problem. it is a good step in the right direction. it is a huge cultural change to this institution. both parties got us in this mess. both parties are going to have to work together to get us out of this mess. the real problem, i would add, is the fact that we spend way more money than we take in. we have to address that. to my friends on the left, i think it would take comfort in the way the spending cuts are designed and the way the sequester is designed. to my friends on the right, we are cutting spending. we have been trying to get discretionary it taps into law four years. i have been here 13 years and this is the first time. when we ran congress, we could

not even get it with a republican congress. now we are getting discretionary caps. that is a big achievement. we used to rubber-stamp these debt limit increases, sneak them in budget resolutions. now it is out here in plain sight. what are we doing? we are actually cutting spending while we do this. that is cultural. that is significant. that is a big step in the right direction. we are getting two-thirds of the cuts that we want in our budget. as far as i'm concerned, 66% in the right direction is better than going in the wrong direction. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. >> the budget control act passed in august of 2011. in the national journal -- the president's top economic adviser said that president obama still believes the payroll

tax cut should be part of broader fiscal talks, suggesting that an issue that was settled months ago could see new life. alan krueger said that "the payroll tax cut has helped middle-class families, has helped support the economy, and help support consumption giving the president has said that the payroll tax cut should be on the table. you can see his comments coming up in about 2.5 hours. while the budget agreement that set up the january fiscal cliff did have bipartisan support in 2011, there were a number of house members who were critical of the legislation. the progressive caucus was one of the groups that did not support the measure, saying it would help -- it would hurt ordinary americans. other members of the caucus spoke to reporters after the vote.

>> hello, ladies and gentlemen of the press. my name is keith ellison. i am co-chair of the progressive caucus. i'm joined by barbara lee, maxine waters, a long-term leader in the progressive caucus, -- while voting to increase the debt ceiling is a necessary step, the reduction measures will further harm our economy and hurt working americans. with unemployment still above 9% and stagnating economic growth, taking out of the economy money that will only place a heavier burden on working families. this is the wrong approach for our economy at the wrong time.

it goes against our basic values. for that reason, we and many other members of the progressive caucus will be voting no. progressives are committed to prosperity for the middle class. we believe that reasonable deficit reductions can be achieved while enhancing values. the latest deal falls short. republicans have saw to dismantle basic services for average working americans while spending more to support millionaires and corporations. the party republicans have held our economy hostage to those demands. the deficit reduction should be an act -- should not be enacted in a hostage situation. we have long said that the fault is not acceptable. if this bill is defeated, we urge the president to use his power on the 14th amendment and executive authority to raise the debt ceiling to avoid default. we will continue to provide support to help working families.

the progressive caucus stood with millions to protect social security and medicare and medicaid from being cut in the deal being voted on today. preventing the worst from happening is not enough. americans will not stand by while their livelihood comes under attack. we can structure our economy in a way that benefits everybody, not just special interests and not just the extremely wealthy. we can articulate a vision for our country not based on what americans cannot achieve, but what it can. that is the type of leadership america needs now. with that, i want to invite rove grijalva - raul grijalva and other members of the progressive congress -- caucus. >> i think that reflects the' progressive frustration with the deal, frustration with the items that we wanted to put on the agenda that needed to be heard in terms

of revenue generation. concerns that we have had dealing with the commission, its powers, and the trigger mechanisms that are part of this deal. and the negotiations that seemed to put it areas on the block and the areas that we indicated needed to be looked at, the tax breaks for corporations and individuals, were left off the table. that frustration is not just one that is built out of the idea that we did not get our way, it is built out of the concept that we offered these over and over, repeatedly, urged our leadership to take those to heart and present a balanced package. shared sacrifice, we believe in the concept. we believe in the concept of compromise. we do not believe in the concept that is not compromise, all take

and no give. we feel this is not a compromise. as such, we will stand in opposition to it. we feel that there is a better way. the president -- if the president has to use the authority given to him unilaterally under the constitution, he should. we should proceed in a calm way to look their revenue generation. after that, we are trapped in the two-party agenda. they won and they should be able to deliver the votes that they need to pass their package. with that, let me introduce miss barbara lee, who has been a leader not only in the progressive caucus, former chair of the black caucus, and one of the voices that we depend on in this congress to raise the issue for average americans. >> thank you very much and thank you for your leadership.

for bringing together the progressive caucus to once again come forward and be the voice of the american people. none of us want to see our nation the fault. -- default. after reviewing this deal, i am simply unable to support it. it totally fails to address the most urgent and pressing crisis in our country, the lack of jobs and economic growth. at a time when investments are needed to jump-start our economy and put people back to work, i believe that this deal and its cuts only approach is the wrong approach. allowing the false link between the debt ceiling and the deficit to gain any credibility was a mistake. it is an outrage that, as we stand here today, a clean debt ceiling vote and a reasonable and balanced approach is what has been long required. while i can appreciate some

provisions to limit the impact of cuts were included, the bill falls very short of achieving the balance necessary. the reality is that the cuts of this side will likely result in massive cuts to vital human needs and will cripple our ability to help our most vulnerable communities, including seniors, the poor, and low income people who are struggling to get by. it includes no revenues and no guarantee of revenues going forward. with over 45 million people living in poverty and the wealth gap at astronomical levels in communities of color, we must demand that the super rich and big oil and big corporations that enjoy tax giveaways and loopholes also contribute to this deficit reduction. finally, it is entirely unacceptable to me that this deal would open the door to cuts in social security,

medicare, and medicaid. enough is enough. we cannot allow the extreme to the party republicans to advance this agenda, dismantle our government while awarding extreme tactics. if necessary, the president should use his authority to raise the debt ceiling. i will be voting no. >> i am lynn will flee from california. -- woolsley from california. we voted on the debt compromise. at the time, we said we would not vote for anything worse. this is worse today. i, for one, and those standing with me, are not going to hold our nose once more and vote for the bill. i will not vote for this bill.

this is not a balanced approach to controlling spending. it does not ask for shared sacrifice. it puts virtually the entire burden of working families and the middle class while asking nothing, and i mean nothing, from billionaires', millionaires, and huge corporations. huge corporations the seine jobs overseas. this does nothing to address the single greatest challenge, creating jobs. for ordinary americans that are just barely getting by that are struggling to pay the bills and go to a better worried -- to bed worried, as has nothing to offer them. i can't believe this is being used to extort trillions of dollars in cuts from investments that the american people need. we can reduce it without taking

it out of the hides of married people. they did not cause this deficit and it is not their responsibility to fix it. we can meet our challenges in a way that is fair that is within our constitutional right. and with all americans doing their part. i will vote against the bill today or tomorrow, whenever it comes to the floor. >> i think my colleagues have basically articulated the feeling of the progressive community in this country. i would like to thank mr. ellison for his leadership in the progressive caucus. what they have done consistently leading the progressive caucus, this deal that was cut is very disappointing. it is very disappointing for a number of reasons.

i cannot understand how we can walk out of the deal raising the limits for the debt ceiling and not have gotten any revenue in the deal. all we have our cuts. i am reminded that this is a very fragile economy. it is fragile and so many ways. they are just astronomical. we have a 17% + in minority communities for the unemployment rate. in other places is 35 or 40%. we need to be talking about stimulating the economy, but just think about this.

we are about to take federal money out of the economy. there will be a loss of jobs with these cuts and that is no way to deal with this predicament we are in in this weakened economy. and i am also very disappointed that we have allowed the tea party to drive this deal. it seems to me that what we have here is a small number of people, a relatively small number of people that have held hostage their own caucus and the democratic party and the american people hostage and with threats of not allowing us to lift the ceiling, the debt ceiling, using this as a way to dismantle this budget. i am very disappointed that negotiators did not do the work to bring them to the point where

everybody could agree that we don't want a default. we are here today with some of the worst public policy that has ever been made in the history of this institution. a lot of people are going to be heard, the economy is going to be even more fragile, and the citizens are going to not only feel the loss of jobs and the loss of opportunity, but this will be four years to come. i think the progressive caucus for standing tall and for standing strong. >> this is not the first time the progressive caucus has taken a leadership role on very tough issues. i have lived through and managed to see a segregated america where people live separately and are treated differently. i simply want to give this brief

statement. it is not really about the members, the constituents of advocacy groups, it is where america wants their country to continue in this pathway. never mind that i thought i was going to see the terror and the tyranny of the minority.inorit they are simply individuals that want to say, my way or the highway. there will be votes coming up on this issue into the fall. the question is on if america will rise up and rushed to this city and announced that enough is enough. although the voices of the minority should be heard, they have a right under this flag

that they will not control this nation in the most distasteful way that they have done to undermine those that cannot speak for themselves. that is what we are facing today and some have some very tough decisions to make. >> we have to go vote, so maybe we can catch up a little bit later. we have not put the caucus to a person, but we have most of them very dissatisfied and many are going to be voting no. >> are you prepared to have partial responsibility? you are willing to accept that? >> the answer is a definitive no. the reason is because all of us voted for a clean debt ceiling, and 18 times, reagan got a

clean vote. this is the normal course of congress, we are all prepared to do it now. what drove us to this point? it is beyond dispute, the decoupling of the debt ceiling in debt reduction has gotten us to this place. we have been fighting for the economy. we have one more and then we have got to go. >> congressman waters said the negotiators were not tough enough. did the president for you under the bus? >> president obama has been given a hand to fight from. he was president at the time that these people made these unreasonable demands to undermine and her basic social services and actually have social security and medicare and

medicaid in their sights. if we have any dispute, it is tactical. we know that these are core democratic values and core american values to stand up for. let me just say finally that we do support the president in using his authority to protect this credit of the united states. with that, we have to go vote. thank you very much. >> that was from august of 2011. we also have the co-authors of the deficit reduction plan. all of that on the web site. in a short interview on what the fiscal cliff means.

>> we are joined from capitol hill, thank you for being with us on c-span radio. what can we expect this week? the house and to set it back together, spending part of the weekend under those principles. >> we have been having meetings aside from the one at the white house and the conversations that you alluded to, we have been seeing meetings at the staff lovell. those will continue probably in the days and weeks ahead. what we're really looking for is to see if there is substantial progress coming to a framework that they can put together for a deal before christmas, which is the next deadline people seem to be setting up. >> as you know, republicans

opening up the door to a possibility of raising taxes at a certain level. democrats being pressured by republicans to put on the issue of entitlements. where does that stand at this point? >> that is something that has been talked about throughout these conversations going back for a couple years. since we started all this, there are long conversations that involve the republicans saying they would come to the table. in exchange for some sort of reform of entitlement programs, maybe some indexing. some people want to raise the retirement age.

all those sorts of things that are not necessarily popular with the democrats. we are seeing more of the same, it is a question on whether or not each side will give the parts that they don't like. >> you have a story available on line with the outgoing senator joe lieberman and independent from connecticut. what is his advice? >> interestingly enough, they have had a plan with oklahoma republican tom coburn that would have some kind of medicare adjustments. he is one of the lawmakers that really want there to be a deal, the time for kicking the can has come to an end. he also says, and i reference back, the senate itself needs to make some changes in the way that the business can get done

more efficiently. part of the problem that we face right now is actually precipitated by the way that the senate operates as a body. >> somebody following this pretty closely, is this a workmanlike approach? is there a sense that they are at least getting some things accomplished at the staff level to work out the final details? >> to be honest, it looks as early to know whether or not there has been much progress made. as i said before, a lot of this is rehashing things from the super committee. in some ways, this is a lot of repackaging pieces we have already seen and maybe someone will come up with something

brand-new that is the piece that puts the puzzle together, but i am not sure that is going to happen. it is rearranging an existing proposal. >> the election is out of the way, does that take away a political argument that we saw before the november elections? >> that is what democrats particularly would like to be the case. in retaining the presidency with president obama, a somewhat unexpectedly picking up a senate seat. they have a bit of leverage going forward particularly on the question of taxes for the upper income, some of whom reject that sort of idea. but that seems to be the way the democrats hope things will go. >> joining us on capitol hill

tonight, thank you for being with us. >> senator dick durbin will talk about efforts in the senate to resolve the fiscal cliff. it we will bring you his speech live starting at 11:30 a.m. eastern on c-span. in an interview today, eric kanter with the deficit reduction plan because they were elected to congress to fix problems. we will hear from republican leaders talking to reporters on the debt ceiling agreement to votvote.

>> good afternoon, everyone. in january, our first week that we were sworn into office, the president asked for an increase in the debt ceiling and i made clear at that time that there would be no increase without significant cuts of spending and changes of the way that we spend the american people's money. shortly after that, i was in new york and outline that i thought the spending cuts should exceed the amount of the debt limit increase and there should be no taxes as part of this agreement. when you look at what we have been able to achieve, we met those standards that have been outlined. it is time for america to deal with its spending problem, and deal with the fact that we made promises that our kids and grandkids can just not afford.

we have listened to the american people who have a real interest making sure that we don't get into this spot again. we ought to have a balanced budget amendment to the constitution. if you look at the structure of the balanced budget issues in this agreement, he gives us the best shot we have had in the 20 years that i have been here to build support for a balanced budget amendment to the constitution and put the kind of fiscal handcuffs on this that are sorely needed. we had never gotten ourselves into the mess that we are and. -- are in. it is also important because our economy needs to get going. beginning to take steps to frisking -- fixing th fiscae fil

problems. reinvesting in our economy and creating jobs. >> the house will vote on a measure today that is not perfect but will call for change in washington. for too many decades now for both parties, this town has spent money it doesn't have. i am sending to congress 87 new republicans, the american people have changed the direction of this country. the bill is not perfect, but changing the way washington spends taxpayer dollars is often a lot like redirecting an aircraft carrier. it is a monumental task. in my experience, i have been involved a lot of discussions surrounding this issue. this administration has been insisting that we raise taxes in order to solve this problem.

the big win for us at for the american people is the fact that there are no tax hikes in this package. with the middle class open for more jobs, the last thing we need right now our tax hikes. i am told that the leader of the other side of the building indicated that somehow i changed my position on that. i can tell you that he is wrong. i insist that now is not the time for us to be considering tax hikes when there is over 9% unemployment and to many people out of work. >> what a difference one year makes. one year ago, washington thought they needed more spending. that they needed more government. congress has opened up, transparent, we have watched the

ideas go to the floor and the ideas have to be debated. we will take the lead at moving this bill out as well. this bill does not give all the answers. this bill does foot in spending controls. it does cut spending and does not increase. we started at the beginning of this debate, the second day that we were sworn in. he wanted to increase its 1.4, we are at a crossroads. a fundamental change to this government, and but it is only a start. after we pass this, we will continue to work to create the jobs and the small business to move this country in the right direction. >> the american people have said there are too few jobs and too

much debt. the legislation that the house will soon vote upon, i believe helps to address both of those concerns. as our whip said, there are those that are still calling for job-killing tax increases in the federal government. it will not happen with this piece of legislation. for only the second time -- i'm sorry, for the first time in my life, government discretionary spending will go down two years in a row. the number relative to the problem are minimal. the direction of change is huge. what i hear from job creators from the fifth district of texas is that we're worried

about his dad. -- this debt. uncertainty and lack of confidence that has contributed to our continued high rate of unemployment. most importantly, for many of us who did not want to raise the debt ceiling, we will plant the seeds for the ultimate solution. and that is to compel the house and the senate to vote on the first balanced budget commitment to the constitution in 15 years. families have to do it, small businesses have to do it. we have the requirement to do it, the american people spent nothing less out of their federal government -- expect

nothing less out of their federal government. taking that to the people of america, and reporting out to the states soon. >> as i stand here, i can't help but think about where we were a year ago when the congress was passing record of new programs and spending and a proven record deficits. today, we completely change course. we can talk about what programs to cut and reduce. the speaker has said this is not a perfect plan, but i view this as a significant step in the right direction. is this plan going to help get our fiscal house in order, we will make sure that we keep the american dream alive. i will be supporting this plan and i urge my colleagues to support this plan.

>> think about where we were at the beginning of this process, the president asking us for a blank check. we did not get that. we said that with the speaker's leadership, we will get a decrease in spending and we got that. since i have been here for 13 years, we have been introducing legislation in the last eight years for caps on spending. we couldn't even get that when the republicans were in the majority. we see this as a good step in the right direction. as a decent down payment on the deficit and a huge change in the culture. we are cutting spending and spending less money next year than last year. if you haven't heard that kind

of a statement before around this town. this does not fix our problems, but we really do believe that the value of this majority is a change to this culture. that rule meant that you could sweep the increase to a budget resolution and no one had to be seen voting for it. we repealed that rule and we would do this in plain sight for the public to see. what we did was use that opportunity to change the culture and spending. that is what this bill does. >> [inaudible] >> i just meant that with all the members of the armed services committee. they clearly have some concerns with the defense numbers in this bill. this is the best defense number

that we are going to get. it is pretty clear to me that the defense number will go down. i believe that many of the members will be supporting the work of the house. >> they indicated that it will be on you to bring a majority vote in the house. >> i would remind all of you that this is not just an agreement between the president and myself, it is between congress and the president of the united states. we will try to get sufficient votes to make sure that it passes. >> [indiscernible]

there'll be a substantial number of republicans that in not support this. what is your argument for why they can't support a bill when you have something -- >> this is what we have been looking for for years. whether it did not go far enough or if the offense was too high, i think the bill will prevail with a majority of republicans. this gets us to the discretionary whole that we have for the budget. it is better than zero. i will take 2/3 in our direction, and that is why i think most republicans will support it. >> do they want all or nothing? >> you have to ask those that feel that way. >> what kind of guarantee you have from the minority leader about this on the super

committee, the issue of tax reform. >> we have not made any decisions, but i am sure that will continue to have conversations about the appointees to the committee. >> what about the candidates and the leaders of your party? romney that it opens the door to higher taxes and cuts in defense cuts. -- and puts in defense cuts. >> i have a big job here and those running for president have their own aspirations. we will solve this debt crisis and give the american people back to work.

>> that is from 16 months ago, what led to the curr >> that is from 16 months ago. obama has a second term makeover for the economic team. they will sit down as chairman of the securities and exchange commission not to tender 14. the number of the commission. the secretary is now leading the administration to prevent the spending cuts and tax hikes. we only hear from democratic minority leader nancy pelosi and other democrats following the vote in august of 2011.

she focuses on jobs and the economy. >> good afternoon. we just completed a very lively membership meeting with the necessity of democrats to save the day pulling the country back from default. it was a bitter pill for us to swallow, and we saved medicare, medicaid, and social security. yesterday, we crossed a bridge. and tough talk about the debt, we have to talk about jobs. we started with how many days it had been since the republicans

had been in office. today is 210 and we have not seen any legislation that has created jobs. we have seen legislation that has cost nearly 2 million jobs. more than 9000 jobs today would be lost if the legislation were signed into law. we have seen in addition to that old the -- hold up, we are hoping to be resolved today. you can't say it's enough. i really like what willie nelson said or he was quoted saying there are more concerned about the ceiling over their heads than raising the debt ceiling. we know that we can do both. i am pleased to hear the president talk about jobs, the

infrastructure, and how we meet the needs of the american people. some of these suggestions have very strong support in our caucus. mr. hoyer the talking about making it in america and again, everybody has been intensely involved. the top priority is the creation of jobs. interesting that it was something that the republicans did not have the votes to pass. they took the step to pull us from the brink even though they did not -- they were not happy with the legislation. it is over and time to talk about jobs.

they will tell you more about it. mr. hoyer. >> thank you, madam leader. let me suggest that talking about jobs is talking about the debt. the only way we will successfully deal with debt is create jobs and economic growth in america. eight months on the job, no jobs bill for the american people. that is the negligent record for the republican majority. democrats have focused on the make it in america plan. invention and manufacturing creates middle-class jobs and is essential to the growth of our whole economy. on our agenda, a long list on

our agenda is a manufacturing strategy. our competitors all have manufacturing strategies and we have our own effective game plan to out produce, out innovate, outgo, and out to invest our competitors around the world. we must develop plans to increase manufacturing and manufacturing jobs. with me on the podium is the chairman of our policy committee that has been a champion of an infrastructure bank that the president mentioned just a few minutes ago. we need to facilitate private sector investment and infrastructure. we need to compete for broadband support and we need to out bill.

we will be able to out bold, in partnership between the public sector and the private sector. clean energy, that is the future. that is the vision we have of an america that has powered itself with clean energy to make america competitive in the most important new economic sector. china is doing that. europe is doing that. america is doing its and must do that as a result of the bill that we passed, the reinvestment act. we need to continue on that. currency reform. under democratic leadership, we passed a bipartisan bill that sought to level the playing field for holding accountable

countries that manipulate currency to gain an unfair trade advantages. we know that china is doing that. we need to pass legislation that will send to the senate a bill that will level the playing field. i am pleased to yield to my good friend from south carolina, the assistant leader of the house of representatives for the democrats. >> madam leader, despite coming up about 44 votes short of 218, to prevent our nation from being devastated by default, republicans continue to play

political games. they have turned their why way or the highway into my way or the runway. that is what has taken place. the federal aviation administration has been bottled up since the tenth day. we have lost about 300 million in revenue. i am pleased that the senate seems to be willing to put a tourniquet on some of this hemorrhaging. the legislation that needs to be

agreed to, the house version, it leads -- leaves out small rural airports. the contract in jobs that are being held have already been the site of that. there is little that is more important to job creation for these communities than the small airports. my republican friends that continue to wreak havoc among the lives of those men and women, those working mandolin -- men and women that put food on the table and in order for the ceiling over their heads, they

repair for a future -- prepare for a future for their children. this is unconscionable and i hope that we hurry and get to the point. set aside political games and start doing what is necessary to resolve these issues that the american people would like to see. we talked about energy. when one of the quickest ways and most elementary ways to put people back to work in a hurry and have a tremendous impact on energy savings is for us to do something to pass what we're commonly calling a savings program that will on energyimmediately

create jobs, bipartisan legislation i have been pushing for more than a year. we ought to do something rather quickly. we turn our attention to jobs so that these rural communities can be looked at. i would like to yield to the chair of our policy [indiscernible] >> i am pleased to join my colleagues today, we now have a debt ceiling fight behind us and we cannot afford to have any moreimmediately create distractions. we have to do everything that we can to create whole paying jobs in america. it is time for this republican majority to break the 110 day streak and start to put real

legislation on the schedule. the president spoke and talked about what ever we are doing, we need to have a piece that is about growing our economy. unless we can grow our economy we will not be able to put people back to work. and we're not going to have economic security. we have to invest in infrastructure when and the manufacturing capacity. they are the engines of economic growth. we have to go back to being a country that builds things rather than one that just consumes goods produced overseas. i have championed the legislation to create an infrastructure bank that can leverage private capital for public investment. failing to invest in our

nation's infrastructure can cause the united states $129 billion a year and over the next 10 years. u.s. businesses would pay $430 billion in transportation costs, household incomes will fall by 7000, and exports will fall by $28 billion. meanwhile, we are falling behind in the global economy. china invests 9% in gross domestic product and infrastructure. here in america, we spend less than 2% of gdp on infrastructure. it is constant bipartisan support that can help close these gaps, restored bridges and water systems. we can do something about telecommunications across this nation, allowing us to build a

twenty first century infrastructure. it can work to create jobs all across america. well paying jobs that can't be outsourced. we are once again making things in america, and this is a great nation that has been built on bricks and mortar and fiber optics. we have got to get back to doing that again. we do not have the time or the luxury to play little games. we did pass job legislation right now including an infrastructure by, when that will create jobs, spur investment, and rebuild america. but be introduced to you the chair of our democratic and congressional campaign committee. >> the legislation to extend the

debt ceiling might not have been a great deal but it is now a done deal. we are moving forward to august. we told republicans in the house accountable for eight months of the wrong choices for the american people in two areas. house republicans made the decision that they're willing to close down the government but they have not produced one single bill for opening a small business in this country. house republicans made a decision with the rise and budget 20 years ago when they said they would allow medicare to wither. they have been fighting that battle relentlessly, every single day, for decades. they try to pass a wry and budget that would be $6,000 to medical costs of senior citizens in order to fund corporate tax

loopholes. they made a decision going into this debate that they would rather close down the government in their relentless pursuit of the closing of medicare. we're calling this accountability august and the american people are going asked the republican members to have meetings from one end of their district to the other. why did you vote to end by medicare? why did you stand with the big oil companies? why did you protect corporate tax loopholes? i do not know if it is predicting -- i am predicting it will be very hot. they will spend their august defending it. thank you. >> he is one of the few

democrats we can call mr. chairman. if we are honored that you are here and thank you for your great work on behalf of the american people. i am proud of the work the caucus has been doing over time on behalf of job creation. there is a tremendous need for rebuilding the infrastructure of america. they say it is in the trillions of dollars, it will create good paying jobs at home. thank you for emphasizing that because we will need public- private partnerships and a way that brings residents. mr. hoyer and mr. clyburne, the congresswoman on this bank issue. i want to mention mark that has

at bill on china's currency 70 already. the discharge petition, they have already passed the house in a bipartisan way and we want it to come up again. this is not only about creating jobs, it is about developing small business with public- private partnerships, the transformation of our country of where people were before the last 10 years? the financial crisis in the deep deficits where they know they will be successful, and we can lead the way and continue to be number one.

we can out innovate, out educate america. we will continue to be number one. in the meantime, we have to make sure that all americans pay for the future economic prosperity of our country. >> and wanted to follow up on the faa, it seems that they will not act on the house passed a bill at legislators are about to go on recess for a month. [inaudible] i am wondering if you think it is fair that these members are going home for a month? >> i think that senator reid agreed with that, and just

before we came in here, he disagreed to house-backed legislation. these small airports, these contracts and jobs, that is my understanding. >> i want to say something on that. i think it is an example of what this republican majority in the house of representatives has done. they were clearly prepared to let america be fault for the first time in history. unless they got their way. secondly, they were prepared to leave washington as they have now done with almost 4000 federal employees out on the

street. we think the number might be as large as 90,000 people who are helping to build and expand infrastructure, helping to make sure our airports are safe and more efficient. they are prepared to walk away and leave almost 95,000 people without a job. why? because they passed a bill and said to the united states senate, either you take it our way or there'll be no runway at no highway in no way. -- and no highway and no way. that is the perfect example of politics not of persuasion or compromise, but the politics of confrontation. my way or no way.

senator reid is confronted with a terrible decision. my friends in organized labor are absolutely right on this issue. none of us and no republican would say to anybody, i want there to be an election in which everybody does not come to the polls is judged a no against me. that is not how we run american elections. that is what he said to the senate. senator reid, as difficult as it may be, he is going to say we are not going to leave washington for those folks out on the street like mr. boehner

would do. >> congresswoman giffords voted for the bill and it seemed like an emotional moment for a lot of members. can you tell us what it feels like for all of you guys? >> it is a great moment for our country because we have a person that is so highly respected, certainly and the elected official in america whose name is synonymous with inspiration and respect. she really wanted to come. i am not going to go into when we knew what and all the rest. i was not one that would have encouraged her to come because we did not think it was going to hinge on one vote. she felt strongly about it that

she wanted to, and we are very proud. i do not know when she leaves town, but any moment she is here, she enhances the climate of non partisanship. it is a great moment. when the green light went on the screen next to her name, it was a highly emotional moment for us. there it was for us. in green, giffords. as i said to the pages there, you have witnessed a great deal of history. nothing has happened like that when a person so respected and so courageous came back because she wanted to save our economy. she knew that the fall would be

harmful. -- default would be harmful. >> [indiscernible] when you make your appointment to this committee, is that something we will require of them? >> thank you for acknowledging that one of the things we were successful with, mr. israel m entioned that we did protect the benefits of social security, medicare, and medicaid. let me say that it is more than a priority, it is a value of ethics for the american people. hideout that whoever is at that table will be someone that fights to protect those bene fits. >> what did you expect to announce?

>> when i do. you'll be among the first to know. >> i wanted to ask you along those lines, what kind of people are you looking for? is there an opportunity for anyone for the caucus -- >> for the past few months, the people have wondered why we are talking about the debt rather than jobs. we had the vote, we don't like the deal but it is a done deal. i have no intention for the next weeks and months to be talking about this committee. we had this responsibility, we will make our appointment and the nature will be self-evident. we can't turn ourselves into a place where we are just talking about the process of this. we have to be creating jobs.

>> with the super committee, will you be taking people that are more apt to compromise as opposed to people that will be home taking down the same road of the stalemate. >> de caucus is very united. reducing the deficit with a strong element of growth and job creation as part of it. we are fooling ourselves if we ever think one element on the table whether it be cuts, if we are serious as our caucus is about reducing the deficit, we have to recognize that some cuts will have to be made. that is considering revenues and a very strong way. some of those revenues had been

mentioned by israel, it is subsidies by corporations or jobs overseas, we have a long list now. mr. hoyer said it, job creation is deficit reduction. again, we are pretty unified in our commitment to reducing the deficit by creating jobs and by having a fair and bipartisan approach to getting it done. don't expect to spend every day talking about the process of that. small business creation and entrepreneurial fears that has been the source of job creation and our success over the past few decades. thank you very much.

[captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012] >> tomorrow morning, jack gerard about gas prices and alternative energy efforts. and the initial lot project discusses long-term unemployment benefits and if they might end in january without congressional action. and after that, dominic chu in advance of the fiscal cliff. emails, phone calls, and tweets. on c-span. >> on 16 or 17 basis, we have military-run schools. the average cost to educate a child is $50,000.

almost four times what the rest of public education costs. the vast majority of bases, we use public schools. we can take the money we're spending today, pay 14,000 a child and save billions of dollars a year with the same or better outcomes. >> you can talk with tom coburn about the future of the republican party on what tv -- book tv. the debt bomb, join the conversation with tweeds and facebook comments with tom coburn.

on c-span to. -- c-span 2. >> talks continue today between white house and congressional leaders trying to work out a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. obama told harry hreid talk about the fiscal cliff before a series of automatic spending cuts go in the place and the bush era tax cuts expire. they will also meet with a group of ceo's later this week. we take you to the august 2011 senate debate on raising the debt ceiling and reducing the federal deficit. comments>> i come here at thist with no real joy. what we put the american people through a lot in the last several months, we ask them to

follow us a long as we discussed this idea. i say there is never joy for me to be here today. in my view, that we have failed to do either one. there are no substantial reductions in spending. there are no significant changes in the way the washington, d.c., does business. mr. president, this country need certainty. we need to raise the debt

ceiling. there needs to be certainty. it would be irresponsible for us not to raise the debt ceiling, but i have said all along it would be equally as irresponsible if we raise the debt ceiling without meeting the criteria i have outlined. while we will have a discussion among all of us as it continues today and we will play quarterback after this is over to figure wrote what we have accomplished, but in my view, it is important to know that there are no cuts in this bill. there is only a reduction in the growth of spending and the reduction is so small, $21 billion produced in the first year in the growth and spending. in kansas, we heard the word -- we heard the word billion and we think that is a lot of money -- and it is. they are finally doing something

significant. but the truth is, we spent $4 billion more each day that we take in and that $21 billion, if realized, in a slowing growth of spending, will be gone in less than a week. this legislation does not cut spending. we promote a balanced budget amendment, which is so critical to our success in changing the structure of how we do things, there is no balanced budget amendment to the united states constitution. our national debt will continue to grow. at the end of 10 years, if everything in this legislation is accomplished, and i think we have to be skeptical about that, our national debt will grow and reach $22 trillion.

10 years from now, with this legislation, $22 trillion. over the next three decades, our debt will become three times the size of our entire economy. we talked about changing the way we look at things in washington comment d.c., and for the first time, we're talking about -- washington, d.c., and we are -- and for the first time we're talking about reducing the growth of spending. can you imagine a family in kansas for congratulating themselves? kansas families, when they are in trouble for spending too much money, they cut the budget today. we are not doing that. they did not slow the growth and they do not wait for 10 years to see it realized, the problem is today. i think this is a significant

problem. people say that we need to raise the debt ceiling today or credit worthiness will be judged by the rating agencies and we will be downgraded. i worry that even with the passage of this bill, its effects are so minimum -- minimal in spending, the downgrade will occur regardless. mr. president, this is a time for us to make the tough choices as compared to kick the can down the road when more time. it is an honor to serve in the united states senate. nothing in my background would ever suggest i would have this opportunity. i am honored to serve kansans here and i will do my best to make the right decisions on their behalf. as i listen to them for the last two years on the topic of what is important, the economy matters and the first and we have to do is get our fiscal house in order so that the economy can grow and people can

find jobs and get better jobs. while my assumption based upon the news reports is the legislation i oppose will pass today, i pledge myself and to my constituents i will work hard to see the every dime that can be saved a curse. i will redouble my efforts to make sure we put americans back to work. the revenues we need to balance our books are not increases in taxes. the revenues we need is a strong and growing economy. so that every american today can put food on their family's table, save for their children's education, and prepare for their own retirement and that we are blessed with the opportunities in this country to see every american child be able to pursue the american dream. >> to say the legislation before us is not ideal is truly an understatement. the notion that our deficit

problem can be solved solely by cutting spending flies in the face of our experience. on wise tax cuts for the wealthy and egregious tax loopholes are significant culprits in our fiscal crisis. i believe too many republicans are influenced by ideologies so extreme that it promised to wreak economic havoc if it did not get their way. no additional revenues became the battle cry. an approach that prevents the balanced steps -- deficit- reduction that the american people support. the legislation incorporate some policies that are profoundly unfair to middle-income americans. this is not a good bill in isolation. no public policy exists in a vacuum. despite its many flaws, this

legislation must pass. let me explain why. there will be a number of negative consequences as a result of this passage, there will be a more dire consequences if it fails to pass. the choice here is between a faulty piece of legislation on the one hand and severe damage to our economy and even greater joblessness on the other. the choice to face now today it with this vote is whether to accept a flawed bill or to watch the united states, the preeminent economic power, default on its obligations to senior citizens, students, and veterans, as well as to those who have invested in our country by the purchase of or bonds under treasury notes. we have taken many steps in the past three years to try to restart job creation in this country.

those efforts would come undone if the crisis that would follow -- in a crisis that would follow our failure to pass this bill. one of the things that is right about this legislation is it avoids a misguided demand that we have another round of crisis and negotiation over this issue in just a few short months. a short-term increase in the debt limits house republicans demanded would lead to a damaging downgrade of the credit rating. it would have frozen financing for businesses and consumers. we simply cannot put the american people and the american economy through that again. despite dispels in balance, and focusing slowly -- solely on spending cuts come at it does contain a mechanism that can force acceptance of what our republican colleagues have

refused to accept. the reality that revenue must be a part to of real deficit reduction and that fair and effective deficit-reduction efforts require shared sacrifice. 2011 is the year of on balanced spending cuts. 2012 must be a year of shared sacrifice, one in which the president uses the bully pulpit to lead the nation to accept the notion that everyone, including the wealthy, must play a role in reducing deficits. democrats have repeatedly emphasized this point. it is a simple fact that among the largest factors contributing to our deficits, the bush tax cuts. tax cuts the greatly increased the growth of the gap between the wealthiest among us and

working families. today it median household income, the income of the typical american household, is lower than it was in the mid- 1990's. the wealthiest americans, not only do extremely well, they're doing better all the time. a few decades ago, the wealthiest 1% of all americans to again 10% of all income. today, it is 24%. these numbers are not aberrations. nor actions of a free market. they reflect policy choices and too often the choice has been to pay lip service to the middle class while driving income inequality to levels not seen in 80 years in this country. the failure to ask all americans to join in the sacrifices required to reduce our deficit flies in the face of logic and fairness and threatens to increase the growing gap

between operand, and middle- income families. -- upper income and middle income families. we propose restoration of the 39.6% tax bracket for the wealthiest americans. most democrats support the end of the tax breaks for the massively profitable oil companies. we see to close loopholes allow tax dodgers to hide income and assets in overseas tax havens to avoid the taxes they rightly ago and to end tax breaks that lead to highly paid hedge fund managers enjoy a lower income tax rates down the rate of their employees. so far, too many have denied the need for the changes. there is a chance this legislation may finally force

consideration of added revenues. added fairness in the tax code and shared sacrifice that is so missing from the cuts in the legislation before us. why is that? under this legislation, we will face a stark choice. we must agree before the end of this year to deficit reduction of the least $1.20 trillion over 10 years or stand by as an automatic budget cuts kicks in to accomplish that goal. a bipartisan joint committee of 12 members of congress will meet and develop a deficit reduction plan that avoids those automatic cuts. that joint committee will have broad powers to review and proposed changes to spending and attacks -- and to the tax code and 12 revenue. revenues -- and to add revenues. revenues will finally be back on the table where they have always

belonged. meeting that $1.20 trillion goal is not going to be easy, but it is achievable. if those who have so far been unwilling to compromise can recognize the revenue must be part of the equation. nobody should be eager for the automatic cuts that would otherwise take effect. many of those cuts would be unacceptably painful and damaging, but the very idea of those automatic cuts is they are so unacceptable, a few of us will want to see them in acted -- enacted. most of us will be willing to compromise in order to avoid them. congress used this approach once before. in 1985, except for a specific deficit targets and required cuts if those targets were not met. the free market for today's legislation is based on that

model. -- a framework for today's legislation is based on that model. "it was never the objective to trigger the sequester. the objective was to have the threats of the sequestered forced compromise and action." and it did. in 1990, when facing the possibility of unacceptable cuts in defense and other important programs, president bush and bipartisan leaders in congress adopted a balanced deficit- reduction plan that included significant new revenues. the damocles sword of the deficit reduction act was the reason for that outcome. i believe that any plan from the bipartisan committee that fails

the test of balance will have no chance of passage in the united states senate. members of the committee must truly be willing to lead, to put aside partisanship and ideology if we are to avoid triggering unacceptable cuts. success also is going to require presidential leadership and strong per use of these bully pulpit. -- stronger use of his bully pulpit. democrats are willing to put forward serious deficit reduction proposals. plans that include painful cuts to important priorities. with the vote to approve this bill, which we must, it is my hope that we have reached a high tide of an ideological movement that has saw to hold tax cuts for the wealthy sacred while imposing increasingly draconian cuts on american families. and threatened economic calamity

if that movement did not get its way. the era of flashing program -- slashing programs that help middle-class americans with no shared sacrifice by the wealthiest among us, that era must end. and give way to an era in which fairness and balance that our efforts. passing this legislation today, hopefully, will drive us to make that transition. >> as everyone else has expressed their support for this proposal, noam seems perfectly satisfied, but -- no one seems perfectly satisfied, but that is inevitable. our nation faces this enormous debt that we have. do we see the glass half full or half-empty? whether what is it encourages us in the agreement always what

disappoints us. for me, the positive always the --- outweighs the negative. what makes me most happy about it come that this is a bipartisan compromise -- about it, this is a bipartisan compromise. it really does turn the corner, terms the ship away from greater deficit and a greater national data bank and in the direction of balancing our budget -- national debt and in the direction of balancing our budget. concern about our future investment, which we have lost in our federal government to the work of both parties, executive

and legislative branch of our government. it is a bipartisan agreement at a time when this chamber and the city have become reflexively and destructively partisan. that is encouraging to me. it is a compromise at a time when this city has become ideologically rigid. we only make progress will be compromised. that is because we are such a diverse country would so many different opinions and points of view. this is a bipartisan compromise and it is the beginning. of a long, hard, marched back to fiscal responsibility. that to a balanced budget. -- back to a balanced budget. what troubles me about it is that the bipartisan compromise

also represents a kind of bipartisan agreement by each party to yield to the other party's most politically and ideologically sensitive priority. in the case the democrats, it is to protect entitlement spending. in the case of republicans, it is to not raise taxes. the reality is, we have to do some of both if we're going to get our country back into balance. because this agreement does not really touched the entitlement programs, particularly medicare , it puts all the burden of getting back towards balance in our budget on the so-called discretionary spending part of the budget. that is the third of federal spending, 60% is the

entitlement for mandatory programs. we have the beginning of the system that forces cuts on a discretionary third of the budget. it does not really ask much of anything of the 60% that is growing so rapidly. as a result, if the special committee created this agreement, which is the great hope of the agreement, it does not work its well and involve itself in entitlement reform and tax reform, at the trigger, the automatic spending cuts are also all from discretionary spending, asking that part of the budget to pay the way, even though it is a small part of the responsibility for the increase in government spending. that would have a devastating effect on our national security.

it would dramatically undercut our defense and also on so many programs and are the investment programs of our future. education, energy, etc., etc. i hope the special committee will redeem our hopes and congress will deal with entitlements reform. senator tom coburn of oklahoma and i introduced a proposal that would take steps to save medicare for the almost 70 million people who will be on medicare and a decade and reduce the enormous -- a lot of people in our country think payroll deductions and the premiums they pay. the total benefits of medicare. unfortunately, not so. the average medicare takes three or $4

out of the system for every dollar they put in. you cannot run a program long- term like that. who picks up the rest? the taxpayers. that is a big part of why we are getting into deficits. you cannot save medicare by leaving in as it is. you can only save medicare, and i want to save medicare -- i believe in the program -- we put forward this plan that will save over $600 billion in medicare costs of the next decade, extend the solvency by a least 30 years, and reduce medicare unfunded liabilities by $10 trillion. i know the plan contains some strong medicine, that what it -- that is what it will take to keep medicare alive. we will forward our proposal to

the joint select committee for their consideration. we hope they will include parts of it in their recommended legislation. i also believe it is essential for the joint committee to act to bolster the solvency of social security. many argue social security is not contributing to the deficit because it has a positive balance. what is in the social security trust fund? it is known as the united states government has given to the trust fund every time we have borrowed from it. we're bound to pay that money back. social security is running a deficit on the cash flow basis. the payments into the system are not as great as the payments out. what does that mean? it means the social security trust fund has to come to the federal government to redeem the

bonds the government gave social security would borrow the money. how does our government pay back the social security trust fund? by borrowing over the next two decades $2.60 trillion currently held in i.o.u.s plus interest. social security will only be able to pay benefits to the extent they are covered by the incoming receipts and that will mean a seven shocking painful 23% cut in benefits for seniors. we have to begin to enact reforms not too slowly save social security and we can do it. i want to indicate to my colleagues, we're working on a bipartisan proposal to secure social security for american seniors for the long term and we hope to have that done in time

to also forward to the special committee for their consideration. bottom line, we cannot protect these entitlements and also have national defense to protect us in a dangerous world what we are at war against the islamists extremists. we cannot not touch the impediments or raise taxes -- touch the entitlements and expect to protect all the programs of investment in our future that mean so much to america's families -- education, alternative energy, investments in our transportation system. to be able to do all of that in the right way, we need a special committee and congress to take the next steps. this is a significant beginning as imperfect as it is.

for all of us and for the president, the speaker, the majority leader, the republican leader in the house, everybody who worked so hard, coming close to the kind of grand bargain but i think we needed that simpson- bowles commission adopted, the gang of six colleagues recommended to us, which i support, the president and the speaker were close to, but fell apart, disciplined and all lot of us feel, but it is -- disappointment that a lot of us feel. i want to quote from a piece from the wall street journal today. two lawyers whose work i have long in mired. here is what they say.

we fill the seats for a short period of time. we do our best. "the debt ceiling crisis has prompted predictable media laments about partisan and dysfunctional our political system has become. if the process leading to the current deal was a spectacle, a three ring circus, the show's impresarios are none other than james madison and alexander hamilton. are messy political system is working exactly the way our founders intended it to." and i go to the end. "the key point has been made. rarely in our system to the participants achieved all or

even most of their goals in a single political battle. the key point has been made. few now suggest that we can continue on our current spending bencinge. that is the beginning of but consensus and the start of a good change. the freeman used -- the framers would be pleased at the spectacle." >> i will support this legislation, but with very serious reservations. the extension is not the one piece of legislation that will change everything wrong in washington. it is at best. reversal of previous tax and spend policy. the bill at settles on a course if we adhere to it, but we will eventually enable us to balance our budget.

put entitlement programs on a sustainable path and create the conditions for strong economic growth. it could have been better, that is absolutely true, as a substantive matter. but politically, the democrats in congress would not agree to more. they control this chamber and the executive branch of government. the second premise of republican leadership was that the united states government must pay its bills, not just to investors of u.s. bonds best to fulfill commitments to the american people. from social security to national defense, we have obligations that republicans insist must be mad. the fault was not an option. that meant agreeing to terms for debt extension that satisfied neither party. the third premise for republicans is that we must

focus on job creation and restoring a healthy economy. that meant not only constraining washington spending, but preventing job-killing tax hikes. and in this, we have succeeded. contrary to public talk, there is nothing that would cause future tax increases. if there were, i would not support this legislation. we prevented tax increases demanded by the president, cut spending over the next 10 years, and created a mechanism to address additional savings like medicare, medicaid, and social security. all of which will default on commitments. and we averted a credit crisis for the united states government. here is why i have such serious reservations.

in an effort to extract a pound of flesh from republicans, the white house, frustrated it could not raise taxes, insisted on massive cuts in defense spending. the $350 billion by white house reckoning over the next 10 years, potentially $18 billion less than the president's own budget just for next year. the white house insisted the defense suffered an additional $492 billion if the select committee set up by this bill fails to produce or congress fails to adopt on how to cut spending to meet the goals of the bill. these cuts or not the result of careful planning and analysis. they were just arbitrary percentage is thrown out in

negotiations, totally unconnected for actual defense requirements. worse, because that would be triggered if the recommendations failed were intentionally designed to be so large and so unimaginable, so irresponsible that congress would be incentivized. the phrase armageddon was used to characterize that scheme. can you imagine anything more hot responsible -- irresponsible, to promote and insist on the narrowing destruction of the u.s. military as a means to threaten congress? the consequences of that action must be so severe that no responsible senator or representative could dare allow the result, that they would be forced to accept the recommendations that the u.s.

military decimated. this should never have been agreed to by members of congress. but most of all, should never have been promoted by the president. it comes close to violating the president's responsibilities as commander in chief. but my vote will not change it. the best way for me to avoid this armageddon is day in the fight and urge my colleagues to disregard this provision. i cannot imagine senators and even the president when faced with the actual vs. the hypothetical choice of knowingly destroying the ability to prevent it. as reckless as this president is to even contemplate much less threatened to incapacitate our

military, i cannot imagine the american people would count on such an action. as i evaluate the work of the committee, if anyone says to me that remember, the trigger is armageddon for the u.s. military. let's take that debate to the american people and let them decide. the thought that this trigger will force senators to make unwise concessions and underestimates the commitment to their own security. the white house has miscalculated. it is so draconian that it will not work. even this president could not implement it. we have to start somewhere on our new journey towards fiscal sanity in this is a good starter. because we have to focus on job creation and not taxes that will kill job creation, because of

its irresponsible and cavalier treatment, we will need to work very hard to restore spending necessary to our national security and commit to reject the threat of armageddon inserted into this bill. >> over the past few weeks, congress is in beijing on a very important debate. it might have been messy and appeared like the government wasn't working. but in fact, the opposite was true. the push and pull of americans was not gridlock. it was the will of the people working itself out in a political system that was never a bad to be pretty. one reason america is not facing the prices we have seen in europe, president and

majority parties can't bring about change on a dime. as much as they might like to from time to time, that is where checks and balances is all about. that is the kind of balance americans voted for in november. the american people sent a wave of new law makers to congress with a very clear mandate. to put our nation's fiscal house in order. those of us that had been fighting the big government policies of democratic majorities welcome them into our ranks. together, we held the line. slowly but surely, we started turning things around. that is why those that think no problem is too big or small for

government to solve are very worried right now. they are afraid the american people might win a larger debate we have been having about the size and the scope of government. the spending spree might actually be coming to an end. they can't believe those that stood up actually changed the terms of the debate here in washington. but today, they have no choice. for some of the colleagues, reform is not coming as fast as they would like. i certainly understand their frustration. i wish we could stand here today with something much more ambitious. i am encouraged by the thought that these senators will lead the fight.

although you may not see it this way, you have actually won this debate. in a few minutes, the senate will vote on legislation that represents a new way of doing business in washington. first, it creates an entirely new template for raising the nation's debt limit. never again will any president from either party be allowed to raise the debt ceiling without being held accountable for its by the american people. and in addition to that, without having to engage in the kind of debate we have just come through, whoever the next president is will be asking to raise the debt ceiling again and provide another opportunity for us to focus on the request to

raise the debt ceiling. we will be back at it in the early part of 2013, trying to continue to make progress the size and scope of government and reducing our spending. this kind of discussion is not something to dread, and while the present may not have enjoyed this debate, it was a debate that washington very much needed have. this legislation cap spending with a mechanism that insurers that these cuts actually stick. it protect the american people that would affect them in the one way or another. it puts in place a powerful joint committee that will recommend further cuts and much needed reforms. it doesn't include a dime in job killing tax hikes. at a moment when our economy can

least afford them. it insures the debate over a balanced budget amendment continues and that it actually gets the vote. this is no small feat when you consider that just last week, the president was still demanding tax hikes as part of any debt ceiling and the top economic advisers said that it was insane. for anybody to tie the debt ceiling to spending cuts. it is worth noting that the adviser is no longer working at the white house. raising the debt ceiling to trillions of dollars in spending cuts.

it is a crucial step, a potentially remarkable achievement. crippling the economy and crippling and entitlements. we settled for less than we wanted but what we achieved is, in no way, insignificant. we did it because we have something democrats did not have. failing to control of 1/3 of the government, the american people agreed with us on the nature of the problem. they know the government did not accumulate $14.50 trillion in debt because it didn't tax enough. if you are spending yourself into oblivion, the solution isn't to spend more, it is to spend less.

the other side got everything it wanted but i think it was the view of those in my party that we try to get as much spending, government we can't control. as much spending reduction as we could from a government that we did not control. that is what we have done with a bipartisan agreement. this is not the deficit reduction package -- getting it there, the president continued to defend that it is no defeat. slowing down the government freight train will give us the time we need to work towards a real solution or give the american people the time that they need to have their voices heard.

much work remains. our first step will be a major republicans that sit on the powerful cost-cutting committee are serious people that put the best interests of the american people when the principles first. i would like to say a word about some of those that make today's vote possible. it should be noted that the terms of this debate, we oppose any debt limit that didn't include cuts that are greater than the amount the debt limit would be raised and he stuck to his guns. over the past few months, it has certainly been a pleasure. it has been the real partner and i assure my colleagues that we would not be here without it. i want to thank the speaker and the entire republican

leadership for standing on principle and i want to thank my republican colleagues in the senate for their determination, their ideas, and their support. we would not be here without them either. we may disagree allot but i hope everyone realized it is never personal. we will get together when the greater good is at stake. america will not default on its obligations. neither side wanted to see the

government default. this bill does not solve the problem, but it forces washington to admit that it has one. the bill does not solve the problem, but it forces washington to a admit that it has one. and it puts us on a path to recovery where we are nowhere near where we need to be in terms of restoring balance, but there should be no doubt about this. we have changed the debate, we are headed in the right direction, and people wondered how it happened. it happened because the american people demanded it. in the end, we are back to where we started. it rains in the size of washington, the american people believed that they could have a

real impact on the direction of their government. we heard them and it is only to their continued participation in this process, lawmakers willing to listen to them, we will complete the work we have begun. courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. i can't think of a better way to sum up this last year and these past few months right here in washington than that. the american people want to see accountability and they want to see that we are working together to get our fiscal house in order. this legislation does not get us there, but for the first time in a very long time, we can say to the american people that we are

finally facing in the right direction, and for that, we have them to thank. >> the majority leader from the senate of nevada. >> the american world has been watching washington very closely. they witnessed a lot of political wrangling and they also saw congressmen make historic and important decisions to avoid default on debt. our country was literally on the verge of disaster. one day left, we were able to get together and avert the disaster. this compromise that we have reached is not perfect. i feel it is important -- can we

have order, please? >> n.v. said it will please come to order. we welcome all our visitors and a disturbance is prohibited under the senate rules. the majority leader may proceed. >> i appreciate the kind words that my counterparts have said on the floor. i have gotten to know him and speaker boehner better over this past month. even though i disagree with the direction the legislation took with no bipartisan support of all, it is not the product that we have here. it is not trying to outline to the winners are, the winners are the american people. we settled for less than we wanted and so did the

republicans. i can't let go without explaining to my friend about how the new members of congress that came here. i welcome them all, but the result of the tea party direction has been very disconcerting and very unfair to the american people. we must go forward. and also, mr. president, of course we need to do more. the american people are not impressed. the vast majority of democrats,

independents, and republicans, it contributed nothing to this. taking place is the middle- class and the poor. mr. president, the huge taxes that took place during this, it should be thriving. tax hikes have not helped the economy. we lost 8 million jobs, to wars started, these tax cuts on borrowed money. if they were so good, the economy should be thriving. 23 million new jobs were created. when president bush took office, a surplus of 10 years, now we're

talking about a $14 trillion debt. the compromise we reached is not perfect. it will not only avert a default, but make a significant reductions. legislation is the stability that it desperately needs. to assure congress we can continue working, i appreciate my friend putting his arms around the idea to have this joint committee. we have worked in decades past and there is no reason it can't work now. we need to do something because the trigger that kick said is very difficult. it has to be one that is fair. tocan't be more cuts

programs that have made this country what it is. it is really unfair for billionaires and a millionaire is not to be contributing to what we have. i am confident that we will do that and the trigger mechanism ticks sen. -- kicks in. the members must have open minds. we have had too much talk the last few days of republicans as early as this morning saying that there will be no revenue. but that is not going to happen. the only way that we can arrive

at a fair arrangement is to have equal sharing. it will be painful. each party is going to be painful for them. they have to move forward. spending cuts, there has to be some revenue that matches that. >> that was set at the date from august 2011. the negotiations continue on the fiscal cliff, we look at how we got here. senator dick durbin will talk about efforts to resolve the fiscal cliff. starting at 11:00 a.m. eastern. tomorrow on washington journal, jack girard of the american petroleum institute talks about alternative energy efforts. and christina ellen discusses

long-term unemployment benefits ending in january without congressional action. after that, bloomberg television reporter dominate chu about what investors are doing with their money. washington journal is live at 7:00 eastern here on c-span. now, reaction from senate republicans to the passage of the debt ceiling increase part of an august 2011 deficit reduction agreement. mitch mcconnell and other republicans. >> i know you are going to miss this, you just hate to see us go. we are going to miss you, too. obviously, the biggest concern is jobs and the economy. things have actually gotten worse since the president have to take -- has taken office and

we need to move in a different direction. the american people do not believe that raising taxes and killing jobs is a direction that we ought to take. the bill that we passed avoided doing that even though the administration desperately wanted to raise taxes. every meeting i am in talks about the regulatory burden we have experienced throughout the american economy. center burasso -- senator burasso has been our leader on that. my answer is always the same, we have to quit borrowing and spending, quit trying to raise taxes comment and let the private sector flourish so that we have a chance again to have a growing economy that will produce more revenue from the government. that should be our focus not only at home, but when we come

back here. one thing that the administration could do is get the trade agreements appear. they enjoy bipartisan support. we hope they will be waiting for us when we get back from the august break. >> it is amazing to see the white house press shop and the eloquence and the campaign team of the president can override the substance of issues with rhetoric. it is very interesting that the moment we have the debt ceiling issue behind us, the president decided to give it -- pivot to job creation. republicans have never taken their eye off of job creation. in a very specific example of the things that we have to deal with during this debate about the deficit and the debt

ceiling, one of the taxes the president proposed that we increase the was the subject of a report by his own small business administration for the office of advocacy. they have reported that it can force small businesses to close, that is a direct quotation. while the president today would have all of us believe that he has gotten a light and he can give it to job creation, i can ask what about that debate that we had over the last month or so about the effects of your tax proposals on job creation. that is why republicans were so fixated on stopping these job- killing tax increases. >> senator rubio that washington is talking about the dead and

americans are talking about jobs. the president has pivoted to jobs, and he begins by blaming his predecessor. we do hold him responsible for making the economy worse. he has made it worse in terms of unemployment, in terms of the federal that, higher gas prices, individual health insurance premiums are higher. home values are down. the high cost of energy plans, a big wet blanket for the private sector job creation and given it a chance, we gotta make it better. fewer regulations, less debt, more exports, your health care mandates, using less. our goal is to make it easier

and cheaper to have private sector jobs. i want to welcome the white house and administration democrats after 2 1/2 years of piling up the record that senator alexander just alluded to. if you think about the legacy of this administration, there are massive amounts of debt. unemployment is over 9%, we saw the anemic growth numbers at a downward revision of 1.9%. this economy is sluggish because the job creators out there are worried about what washington will do next. that is probably verified by the u.s. chamber of commerce.

64% said they would not add to their payrolls. a 12% said they would cut jobs, and of the businesses that responded, half of them said the reason was economic uncertainty. because of washington d.c. policies and this administration's economic record that has had a job-crushing agenda since the day they came into office. i am delighted to welcome them to the debate after two and a half years of being missing in action. >> the president came to office and unemployment was 7.8%. millions of americans looking for work and can't find someone to employ them. a lot of that has to do with regulations coming out of washington. 31 days of july, 300 new expensive regulations and 10 of

those are major regulations of over $100 million. and the impact on those businesses. the total impact is $10 billion when you look it hundreds of regulations in the month of july alone. this administration seems to be fixated on finding ways to make it tougher and more expensive for the private sector to create jobs in america. >> looking forward, one of the most important things to come out of this agreement is a commitment for a vote on the united states constitution some time by october. when you look at everything congress can do, it is one of the biggest challenges we have had, which is why a balanced budget amendment is absolutely essential.

all 47 republicans have co- sponsored a version of that amendment and what we have the opportunity to do is to take a small step in the right direction towards fiscal responsibility, to finish that job for a balanced budget amendment both in the house and the senate and sending it to states for eradication. we know there is a lot we can do between now and the time the amendment is ratified. but ultimately, will we be -- will leave by a living by the same rules -- will we be living by the same rules as families? i think we have all seen that this is the ultimate measure of fiscal responsibility and i congratulate our leadership for getting our commitment, we can't get a vote on anything unless harry reid agrees to give us a loovote. this is perhaps the most

important thing to come out of this agreement. >> we will take a couple of questions. >> [inaudible] >> i am going to be considering these appointments and we will be acting as a result. >> [inaudible] >> does anybody have the top light on that? -- line on that? >> [inaudible] >> i don't have it in my head, but we said the number on the discretionary side for 12 and 13.

it should be immediately available to you. that allows us to have a normal appropriations process. normally, the senate would pass the budget and it has been several days since we passed a budget in the senate. you reconcile the differences and you get the top line of how much you're going to spend. not being optimistic, we have put in for the measure that was just passed and the president will sign. the top line for fiscal year 12- 13. >> the white house was saying that there are 350 billion and even further cuts in the joint committee. >> of the joint committee is not going to gridlock in my opinion. it is designed to function at

tackle some of the very difficult problems that we have been unwilling or unable to deal with. the trustees appointed by the president, both plans are in trouble. we have not been able to do anything on the tax reform side. we decided to concentrate power in this joint committee because we have an extraordinary problem. the normal way we do business was adequate, we wouldn't have a 14 trillion dollar debt and $15 trillion in unfunded liabilities. it will be voted on before the end of the year, and i will focus the lot on what would happen if they did not function. >> does anybody want to tackle

that? >> [inaudible] >> we are so late in fiscal year 12, it begins at the end of next month. it will probably be difficult to have a normal appropriations process, and they will have to be clumped together. knowing what the top line is going to be, it is our hope we will be able to do the basic work of government. reporting bills, getting them done. we are so late, it will be difficult to have that kind of process.

as you know, we end up with either a c.r., that is not the best way to do it. i don't see any way to avoid it. we will see how we sort it out. in the month of september. thank you, everyone. >> what of the stories in the wall street journal about the fiscal cliff, there is an old idea that seem unfeasible. gradually raising the eligibility age. the article continues saying that president obama indicated in previous negotiations that he might be open to the notion.

it has been furthered by republicans including paul ryan of wisconsin. and the party's former vice presidential nominee. and now, said democrats on the debt ceiling bill. the measure passed 74-26. 28 republicans, one independent voted in favor of the budget measure. >> the debate was long and it as the american people watched to see if we could get the job done. we got the job done and brought

the economy back from the brink of disaster. in the end, the two sides came together and neither side got what they wanted. each side laments some of the things that we have to give up, but that is the way it is. that is of the system works and that is how compromise works. cap-cupt a right wing and whatever it is over there. that was not bipartisan and nothing that we could agree to. it would be disastrous for america. this cuts the deficit by $1 trillion and lays the groundwork for much more in the near future. we look forward to the work on the committee to make sure millionaires and billionaires and people that have got to get tax benefits, oil companies will

get these huge tax subsidies. that is what the select committee is going to be about. we need to do more for families. congress must be creating jobs for the american people. there are a number of things we are going to do and mr. schumer will address that in a few minutes. today, we made sure america will pay its bills. >> with this vote of 74-26, we have averted a crisis. america has avoided defaulting. the fears and concerns of americans across the board are considered by this congress and as a result, we have come together on a bipartisan basis. the down payment on the deficit included in this bill comes primarily from working families

and those struggling in america. if we are going to have true deficit reduction, we have to put everything on the table and put everything on the table. the committee has a particular responsibility here for another $1.50 trillion in savings. let us make sure that we do it in a fair and just manner for all the people in america. and we will spell out that we address the number one issue, creating jobs for people in this economy. >> washington, the nation, the world can breathe a sigh of relief. the crisis that would have continued if we defaulted, the recession has been diverted. but we have a lot more work to do. a lot more work to do.

the bill, which had things as the leader mentioned, a lot of things we did not like. it had some things we like, particularly making sure that no benefits in medicare, social security, and medicaid were cut. it is time for congress to get back to our regularly scheduled programming. and that means jobs. washington has been consumed with averting default and the nation's unemployment problem has been worsening. it is time to put jobs back at the front burner. the single-minded focus on jobs. by proving that both parties can come together to get our deficit under control, we have provided uncertainty to the credit markets.

largely resolving the budgets for the next two years, the wrangling over spending could be greatly reduced in the coming months. we have the chance to give it away from budget battles to jobs. we can reset the debate and that is what we planned to do. that is what the american people want. the public is glad to see that we moved to rein in the deficit. as democrats, that is our strong suit. we welcome this chance to shift the playing field to jobs. >> this was obviously a very important vote. we needed to deficit. raise the debt ceiling and cut spending.

we still have a very long and critical road ahead of us. we are going to keep working hard to make sure that if we tackle the challenges in front of us, we do it in a fair and balanced way for americans across the country. it is time to get back to our priority getting the economy back on track and people back to work. this bill that we had begins to address the budget deficit. we also have an infrastructure deficit and education and skills training deficit. we want to get back on track and address that issue. they will have a paycheck and their families will be able to have food on the table. i think this showed us that we can work in a bipartisan way. i hope that we can do that moving forward now to address

the number one issue for every family. jobs. >> why would this be more successful in addressing taxes or entitlement programs when the by in group for the -- >> the answer is pretty obvious. hanging over the head of the joint committee is this trigger that is pretty drastic. >> are there things to keep this from happening again? is there a chance that the house caucus once again will say, we are not going to support a debt ceiling increase after 2013. >> i think this sets the tone for what happens in the future and think the trigger kicks in.

of course, they will take places in between that and 2013. >> the extension, by the end of the day, would you be head to head? >> we have 80,000 jobs on the line. we started construction about two weeks ago, and this huge project, nearly 100-million- dollar project. we have the control tower and as i understood, they shut down the construction on that. the essential air service is a program that i believe in. i also believe that $3,500 is pretty strange.

i do my best to protect the state, and this deal that we have just done. and not be bound by some of your own personal issues. i hope that the other senators will do the same. >> [inaudible] >> we are going to have -- or working on the next few weeks, there are zero kinds of things. -- all kinds of things. it will be the first vote when we come back. 270,000 jobs. i indicated to my friends here, i spoke to chairman baucus

today, he found a source of money to complete the highway bill. we are also concerned about the new energy jobs that are out there and we don't have it finalized yet, but we will. >> [indiscernible] . >> [inaudible] >> i think people on the debt committee, this is more about saving our country from the future long-term deficit problem is that we have. -- problems that we have. it will be 14 days after the president signs the bill. thanks, everyone.

>> the senate passed the debt ceiling agreement 74-26. this august 2011 white house event, the president says it is an important first step. >> it was a long and contentious debate, i want to thank people for putting pressure on their officials to put politics aside and work together for the good of the country. this guarantees $2 trillion in deficit reduction. it is the first step in assuring that we live within our means. it also allows us to keep making key investments for things like education, research to lead the new jobs. to make sure that we are not

cutting too abruptly because the economy is still fragile. this is just the first step, compromise requires that both parties work together to cut the deficit which is important for the long-term health of our economy. since you can't close the deficit with just spending cuts, we will need a balanced approach where everything is on the table. that means making some adjustments to protect health- care programs so that they are there for future generations. it also means reforming the tax code so that the wealthiest americans and corporations pay their fair share. it also means getting rid of taxpayer subsidies to oil companies and a loophole that helped billionaires' bailout or tax rate than teachers and nurses. i have said before and i will say again, we can't balance the budget on the backs of the people that have borne the biggest brunt of this recession.

we can't make it tougher for young people to go to college or ask seniors to pay more for health care or as scientists to give up on promising medical research because we could not close a tax shelter for those among us. everyone is going to have the chin. it is only fair. that is the principle i will be fighting for during the next phase of this process. and in the coming months, i will fight for what the american people care most about. new jobs, higher wages and faster economic growth. washington has been absorbed in this debate about deficits. people across the country are asking what we can do to help people that are looking for work. what can we do for the bomb that has seen the hours cut back at the hospital. what do we do for businesses that put up the hiring sign?

people are frustrated with what is going on in this town. they have already had to absorbent earthquake in japan, the economic that winds coming from europe, the arab spring. all of which have been very challenging for the recovery. these are things that we could not control. our economy did not need washington to come along to make things worse. that was in our hands. it is pretty likely it is a round -- around where we could have needed. voters may have chosen divided government but they did not vote for dysfunctional government. they want us to solve problems and get this economy growing and

adding jobs. while deficit reduction is part of that agenda, it is not the whole agenda. growing the economy is not just about cutting spending, that is not how we are going to get past this recession. we will have to do more than that. that is why when congress gets back from recess, i will urge them to immediately take some steps. it will make a difference. it will create a climate where businesses can hire and folks will have money. people out of work can find their jobs. urge them towe need to begin by exteg

tax cuts for middle-class families. if you have more money in your paycheck, you are more likely to spend it. it means businesses will all have more. they will be in a better position to hire. we need to make sure that the millions of workers still looking for jobs to support their families are not denied needed unemployment benefits. we can cut the red tape that stops them from quickly turn ideas into thriving businesses that holds our economy back. i want the congress to pass a set of trade deals. it will help displaced workers and help sell more products that are stamped to begin by with the in america. we need to give more opportunities for those construction workers have lost their jobs. we can put them to work right now by giving to those that want

to help with bridges and airports, rebuilding infrastructure. and infrastructure bank would help put that together. on the topic of infrastructure, there is another stalemate in congress right now involving the aviation industry which has dulled airport construction projects around the country. tens of thousands of construction workers are at risk. because of politics. it is another inflicted wound on america and congress needs to break that impasse now hopefully before the senate adjourns. there is no reason for congress not to send me those bills were i consign them right away, as soon as we get back from recess.

both parties share power in washington and need to take responsibility for improving this economy. not a democratic or republican responsibility, it is our collective responsibility as americans. i will be discussing the weeks ahead to help companies invest and expand. we have seen that washington has the ability to focus when there is a timer ticking down and when there is a looming disaster. it should not take the risk of default or economic capacity to get folks in this town to work together and do their jobs. there is a quiet crisis going on in the lives of families. they're looking for work and have been for a while. they're making do with your hours or they're just trying to

make ends meet. it ought to compel washington to cooperate or compromise and act. it ought to be a tough to get all of us in this town to do the jobs that we are sent here to do. we have to do everything in our power to get everything back to work. thanks very much, everybody. >> as we return to washington this week, congressional lawmakers are talking about compromise to avoid behalthe fil cliff.

the white house warned today that the potential tax hikes for middle-class taxpayers could hurt consumer confidence during the holiday shopping season and had a negative effect on the economy. the white house is ratcheting up pressure on the republicans. on c-span tonight, some of the house and senate debate from 2011. it will trigger automatic budget cuts to take effect on january 1. the white house warnedbut firsty leader harry reid and republican senate leader talking today on the senate floor about the january fiscal deadline. since our country voted to return president obama to the white house and the democratic majority in the senate, i've spoken often about compromise. i remain optimistic that when it

comes to our economy, when it comes to protecting middle-class families from a whopping tax hike come january 1, republicans and democrats will be able to find common ground. president dwight eisenhower, a republican, once said and i quote -- "people talk about the middle of the road as though it were unacceptable. there have to be compromises. the middle of the road is all usable space." so said dwight eisenhower. too often, republicans and democrats in washington face off from our entrenched positions, never realizing the solutions to the country's problems rest not on one side of the aisle or the other but somewhere in the middle. however, as we continue to negotiate a responsible path forward, i remind everyone within the souped of my voice of one fact -- this congress is already one vote away from avoiding the fiscal cliff for middle-class families and small businesses. we could solve the greatest economic emergency facing the nation today if only the house

would consider the senate-passed bill freezing tax rates for 90% of american families and 97% of small businesses. as thomas jefferson said, and this is a quote -- "we should not put off tomorrow what we can do today." our legislation would give economic certainty to the middle class, protect important tax deductions for families and businesses and restore balance by asking the most fortunate among us to pay a little extra to reduce this debt. it's also the only bill with a chance of being signed into law by president obama. i was dismayed to hear speaker boehner once again urge the senate to take up the house-passed bill extending more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. mr. president, the senate has already considered the bill, and we reject it on a bipartisan basis, so for the speaker to say bring it up, we already have. it was voted down in this congress. the senate has spoken. president obama has spoken.

he has promised he will not sign any bill that mortgages our future to pay for handouts for the wealthiest 2% of americans. i only hope house republicans have been listening. i also hope my colleagues, republicans and democrats, members of the house and the senate, used the thanksgiving break not only to give thanks but also to reflect on the monumental tasks ahead. i hope they took time to reflect on the effort it will take to complete these tasks. as president eisenhower said, there will have to be compromises, and seeking the middle of the road isn't just ac mr. mcconnell: mr. president? the presiding officer: the republican leader. mr. mcconnell: as most americans know by now, the next few weeks are clinton cally important in the life of our nation. unless -- are critically important in the life of our nation. unless the president leads and congress acts, a combination of tax hikes and spending cuts could go into effect that would have a devastating effect on our national defense and on an already painfully slow economy. what's more, the nation's finances are teetering on the

edge and threatening even greater hardship for literally millions unless we bring federal spending into balance. the question is what are we going to do about all this? how do we face up to fiscal irresponsibility and the can kicking that got us here and finally to what's right for the country. well, i don't think it's a secret that for our part, republicans have shown a clear willingness to make tough choices in order to find the solution to the trillion-dollar deficits of the last four years. we have been open to revenue by closing loopholes as long as it's tied to spending cuts and pro-growth tax reform that broadens the base and lowers rates. this is the model laid out by the simpson-bowles commission and it's a model both parties should step forward and embrace. without compromising our

principles, we put skin in the game and recognition of the fact that while democrats don't run this town, neither do we. we have been responsible even as we have remained firm on this point. no tax increases now for promised spending cuts that won't materialize later. the american people have seen that game before, and they won't be fooled again. the only balanced approach is one that includes real and lasting reforms, so republicans have stepped out of our comfort zone. we have been clear about what we'll do and what we want, and yet we remain at an impasse, leading us to ask why. because a vocal minority on the hard left continues to argue to leaders of their party from the president on down that democrats in washington should do absolutely nothing about short-term or long-term spending problems. this is the thelma and louise

crowd, the ones who dream about higher taxes and the bigger government it will pay for, regardless of the impact on jobs or the economy or america's standing in the world. these are the ones who have recklessly ignored the fact that we can't keep running trillion-dollar deficits every year and throw a tantrum if somebody suggests that maybe the taxpayers shouldn't keep subsidizing every last program washington ever dreamed up. their reckless and ideological approach threatens our very future and anyone who is serious about solving the problems we face should ignore all of that, starting with the president. the election's over, but the economy and fiscal problems of the past several years have only gotten worse. it's time for the president to present a plan that rises above these reckless and radical voices on the hard left that goes beyond the talking points of the campaign trail and that has a realistic chance of

passing the congress. the time, in other words, for campaigning is over. it's time for the president to lead. a little over a week ago, i attended a meeting with the president down at the white house that was positive and productive, and afterward i was confident that all sides were eager to figure out a solution to the present challenges that respects our respective principles, but as i have said repeatedly, the only person in america who can really make or break it is the president himself. he's the only one who can lead his party to do something they wouldn't ordinarily do, to do what's actually needed now, and that's why he's the one who has to present a plan for success. so we'll continue to wait on the president and hope that he has what it takes to bring people together and forge a compromise. if he does, we'll get there, and if he doesn't, we

>> despite the comments we just heard from the senate minority leader mcconnell, the talks are at an impasse. we will take you to the august 2011 health debate on the budget control act. extending cuts and the bush era tax cuts for two years. if passed in the house, to 69- 261. >> we have missed a wonderful opportunity to make a grand bargain as the speaker wanted to do, as leader's wanted to do, as leader reid wanted to do and the president and vice president wanted to do. asking whether we are still a nation that paid its bills, we

will do the unthinkable. we are only at this point because the far right wing has chosen to hold our economy hostage to enact the radical ideological agenda that far out steps the majority of americans. if nothing else, these months have shown the american people who whitsunday country oppose the welfare first. also, i am voting for this bill. although it does do some things that i think need to be done. we need to bring down the deficit and return to fiscal responsibility. the fall of the united states of

america is not an option. this would affect all the people i represent and all the people of this country if we defaulted. at the very least this averts the outcome by paying our bills by 2013, which would bring certainty to a struggling economy that badly needed. this cut spending and also establishes a process to arrive the additional spending cuts. this will be entrusted to a bipartisan committee. hopefully this will accurately reflect the priorities of this nation. we are here because we missed a great opportunity. i have one additional minute. a chance to pass on an agreement and relies on revenue. we are not there. i have said many times to govern

is to compromise. some people think voting for a compromise is somehow a sellout. we cannot run america on that theory, and that is not what democracy is all about. i urge my colleagues to ensure america pays its bills. >> i will yield additional time. >> i would like to complement him. a proposed the debate by talking about the conn compromise. my closing remarks, it was talked about the great compromise. we are at the point today in dealing with an issue not of that magnitude but clearly an important one. i have to yield another 10 seconds. 15 seconds. >> i yielded to you.

>> the gentleman's time has expired. >> i will yield 45 seconds to my friend. >> i have said numerous times about whether america is going to pay its bills, that we need to vote as americans, americans concerned about their country, concerned about the confidence people around the world have in the american dollar, which is the standard of the world. that is what i think this vote is about. it should not be about partisan politics, and it should not be about ideological extremes. it ought to be about responsability. it ought to be understanding we should preserve and protect the united states of america.

this bill does that. vote yes. >> the gentleman has two minutes remaining. the gentleman is recognized. >> i feel very honored to follow my good friend and extinguished a democrat in with as we talk about this compromise. -- and extinguished whip as we talk about this compromise. this is something both parties share. we are going to be able to save social security and medicare, working in a bipartisan way, creating jobs. democrats and republicans like to talk about that. how is it we are going to be able to do that? getting our fiscal house in order is an important step in our quest to ensure the people who are earning an looking for jobs will have an opportunity to get them. sending a signal to the global market that we are the world's

economic, military, and geopolitical leader. by increasing the debt ceiling, we are sending a positive signal we are going to continue meeting our responsability, but at the same time, dramatically reducing spending. the problem that has got us to this point is what we are doing for the first time ever. after 75 times increasing the debt ceiling, we are getting to the root cause, and the problem is our debt, and we are going to turn the corner on that and a thoughtful and balanced way. mr. speaker, i want to compliment the president of the united states. i want to complement harry reid and mitch mcconnell, and i want to congratulate speaker john boehner, who has done a phenomenal job insuring we would not have business as usual. i want to congratulate minority leader policy for the effort she has put into getting to where we are today. -- minority leader pelosi for

the effort she has put into getting to where we are today. i yield the balance of my time. >> the chair now recognizes members from the committee on ways and means. the ranking minority member from michigan. >> i yield my time. as congress did not act -- if congress did not act, that would wreak havoc on our economy and make it harder for americans to find and keep a job. the fault cannot been an option. just as this would threat our country, so would raising taxes on families and job creators would hinder investment, increase the cost of doing business, and result in less

hiring and fewer jobs. it the good news is the legislation recognizes the facts and does not increase taxes. some have argued the new joint committee can pave the way for tax increases, that is not going to happen. the committee structure, the baseline it will work off of, and the fact republicans are in the majority of the house virtually guarantees tax rates will not go up. this legislation forces washington to make serious changes to the way it spends taxpayer dollars. there are real budget reforms. there is a path to the balanced budget amendment, and there are automatic spending cuts if congress does not rein in spending. i saw the efforts of those who

helped draft this agreement. i urge my colleagues to recognize this opportunity to fix what is broken in washington and use this occasion to significantly cut runaway spending. i reserve the balance of my time. >> i now yield two minutes to my friend, and most distinguished member of the ways and means committee for a long time. but the gentleman from new york is recognized for two minutes. >> i stand on this floor as an american and a person who loves this congress so much. and i am embarrassed the president of the united states would have domestic and foreign policy held hostage, because with no president have we decided we would almost put in jeopardy the fiscal

responsibility of this country paying its debt. a lot of people have said we have four trillion dollar debt because we got drunk and spend money like drunken sailor. if that is so, the people having a hangover are not the wealthy people of this country, and this was decided without any consideration of the people longing for jobs in our great country. if the republicans had to hold the president hostage, i wish they would have held him hostage on the question my constituents wake up in the morning and ask, not whether or not the debt ceiling has risen, but how can i get a job, how can i put food on the table? these are issues you certainly do not resolved by cutting spending, causing people to lose

their jobs and to lose their hope, so i am glad we are not , but the daysault commo ahead we ought to spend talking about what most americans want, and that is a fair tax system where the wealthy have great -- have gained so much and not allowed a hangover to be with people who are jobless. we still have time to close this responsability we have, to close the debt we have, not by laying off people, not by just cutting programs during the recession, but by thinking how we can train people, how we can research and get it to work. >> mr. speaker, i yield two minutes to a distinguished member of the ways and means committee. >> thank you, mr. speaker. 14.4 trillion dollars.

1.6 trillion dollars every year added to the national debt. the people in november, 2010, spoke loudly. we are listening. it is time we in this chamber except the fact dc has to and will change, because the american people have spoken loudly. they want us to get our fiscal house in order. they want us to bring certainty to the american market so we can invest in this great country and put people back to work not only for this generation but for generations to come. i rise in support of this legislation. it is not the cure all. it is not the one battle but will win this war on our national debt, but it opens a sub -- opens us up on a path where we need to be firmly dedicated and disciplined to

carry on this battle and the battles to come, so i asked my colleagues, let us govern responsibly, let us avoid default but continue on this battle, and continue on we will asner of from -- as a freshman member of this chamber. i yield back the balance of my time. >> i yield a minute and a half to another distinguished member of my committee. >> one-and-a-half minutes. praxair rise in support of this agreement. -- >> i rise in support of this agreement. this is a lousy way to rebuild the economy. i support it because the alternative is unsuccessful. defaulting for the first time in our nation's history. doing so would be the greatest error in ou the history of our country. the performance of this country

leaves a lot to be desired, and if king solomon were alive today, i think his solution would be to kill both women and spare the child, but if we are to achieve true fiscal solvency for our country, there are three things that need to happen. we need to invest in our future, to grow the economy. you do that by investing in education and job training, research, the infrastructure our country needs, and broadband expansion. that is not happening, and it will not under this agreement. we need to look for smart savings in the budget, starting with the way we pay for health care so it is based on the value of nano logger volume. get rid of the weapons -- value and no longer on volume. is ending taxpayer subsidies going to large businesses with mailing addresses in new york, chicago, and san francisco, not

even to working families, and finally, we need tax reform. this is like an anchor on job creation, but it is fair, asking the most wealthy to contribute their fair share as well. i do not and not -- i support the agreement, and i encourage my colleagues to do so. >> i now yield one minute to this chambers gentleman from tennessee. whacks the gentleman is recognized for one minute. -- >> the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you. i have voted twice to raise the debt ceiling. i voted this past weekend for leader read's program, which had cuts, but i cannot vote for this program because the first series of cuts we know. the second series we do not know. i fear it is a trojan horse, and if you look inside, is scylla

and charybdus inside. that is something this country should not trevor's. -- traverse. they want to hurt the president of the united states, and i do not want to hurt him. the justice said the greatest danger is men of zeal, well- meaning, but without understanding. thank you, mr. speaker, and i yield back the balance of my time. >> thank you, mr. speaker. we should never have gotten to the point where our troops in afghanistan had to ask whether they were going to be paid. that is the scandal, and it is scandalous the republicans and and and new orders were -- who had threatened to torpedo

american jobs unless they succeeded in enacting a budget plan to end the medicare guarantee, slash medicaid, and critical investments in education and our future. that was the plan. they wanted to do that now, and they wanted to have this debate six months from now. why? not to reduce the deficit. if the goal was to reduce the deficit, why refuse to end taxpayer subsidies for the oil companies? if reducing the deficit was the purpose, why refuse to end special breaks for corporate jets or those at the high end of the income scale? that was not the plan. the plan was to use this money to threaten the economy, to try to slash the social safety net and those critical investment in innovation and our future, and guess what? they failed.

they failed to do that. they failed to end the guarantee. they failed to slash medicaid. we succeeded in protecting medicare and social security beneficiaries. we succeeded in protecting seniors in nursing homes, individuals with disabilities, and poor kids who depend on medicare. we succeeded in providing room for critical investments in america's future. do not get me wrong. there is much in this plan i do not like. we did not succeed in shutting down special interest tax loopholes that have hundreds of billions of dollars to our deficits. our republican colleagues refused to cut those subsidies for big oil companies. they refused to cut the others, and now we are going to have a great debate about how to grow the economy and reduce our long term deficit. it will be a debate about our

national priorities. i hope we will support a balanced approach the president has called for. i have very limited time. one that refuses to put greater burdens on medicare beneficiaries in order to provide tax breaks to the wealthiest americans, and in the coming months, our republican colleagues will be given the following test. will they choose to protect special interest tax screensaver investments necessary to keep our nation strong and secure? will they finally demonstrate a willingness to pay for our national defense, rather than put it on the credit card? let's get on with that national debate and finally focus on jobs and getting the economy going as we reduce our long term deficit. i thank you, mr. speaker, and i reserve the balance of my time. >> the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. gentleman from wisconsin, said

the men from maryland? >> thank you, mr. speaker. i yield one minute to the gentle lady and member of the budget committee. >> the gentle lady is recognized for one minute. >> thank you for yielding. so many of my colleagues said it was necessary to storm the white house in the name of their grandchildren, so i want to talk about what i want for my grandchildren. i want headstart, early childhood education. i want my kids to go to school where they can participate in the science fair. i want immunizations for them. i want research done for food safety to make sure chicken nuggets are saved. i want clean air and clean water. i want jobs where they invent things like new energy sources , and i want them to be

contributing citizens, and i want now a system in case they are elderly. i want my children to get the american dream, and i yield back. >> the gentleman from wisconsin. the gentleman yield his time. the gentleman from maryland? >> i yield a minute to the gentle lady from california. >> thank you for yielding, and also for your effective leadership. i rise in strong opposition to this unbalance debt ceiling bill. this is an unbalanced approach. we have heard that, and furthermore, this should never have been an option in terms of coming to the floor to debate this.

we should have lifted the debt ceiling. rightfully so contracts -- rightfully so, many of us are concerned about these discretionary cuts. what are they going to do as it relates to senior citizens, low income individuals, and the poor? this debt ceiling bill does nothing to address the real crisis in our country, the lack of jobs and economic growth at a time when jobs are needed to jump-start our economy and put people back to work common this deal is the wrong approach. it is an outrage that we could not raise the debt ceiling by voting for that. thank you again. i intend to vote no on this bill. >> the gentleman from maryland. >> thank you. i yield one minute to the gentleman from new jersey, who

has been a fighter in this battle. mr. andrews. >> what brings us together is a need to create jobs for the american people, and people agree there are three things we need to do to create jobs. the first is not to fall off a cliff and have a default on our national obligations. this bill accomplishes that. the second thing is to make sure we have an interest rate environment so businesses and entrepreneurs can create jobs so they have predictability. by making a 25% or 30% down payment on reducing our deficit now in a fair and equitable way, this bill does that. i think most of us agree we need investment in our education, research and development, infrastructure, and other activities to create jobs. by making sure at least in the first two years of this agreement that the reductions

are either nonexistent or moderate, i think we give ourselves freedom so outhey can put valuable agreements for work in that way. this is an agreement to create jobs for the american people. i urge a yes vote. >> the gentleman from the gentleman from maryland has two minutes remaining and the gentleman from wisconsin has four minutes remaining. >> i yield myself one minute. mr. speaker, as i said at the outset, we should never have reached this point in our country. we should never have reached the point when our troops whether they were -- wondered whether they were going to get paid or whether individuals on social security wondered whether they would see their earned benefits. that should never happen. this is the first time in history the we have seen -- that

we have seen members of this congress threatened to close down the american economy unless they got their particular budget plan through, one that ends the medicare guaranteed, slashes medicaid, and would deeply cut investments in education and innovation. we protected those investments in this bill. the plan did not work. it did not work now. the plan to do it again six months from now did not work. now we will have the great debate over our priorities. we are looking forward to it. let's get on to talking about jobs and the economy. with that, i yield one minute to the very distinguished democratic leader, who has been a fighter for america's priorities, ms. pelosi.

>> thank you, mr. speaker. i thank the gentleman for yielding. every chance i get, i want to salute him for his tremendous leadership as the top democrat on the committee for the work he did with the bipartisan talks. the american people want a balanced, bipartisan, fair agreement to lift the debt ceiling and take america forward. unfortunately, that did not happen. what did happen and it brings to mind the taxes central question, why are we here? i would divide that question into why are we here and why are we here today? we are here because all of us in this body care about our country, have decided that public service is a noble pursuit, and we have come here to make the future better for future generations.

that is what our founding fathers visualized for america, that every generation would take responsibility to make the future better for the next. that is why, mr. speaker, our founders, in addition to writing are finding -- our founding documents, the declaration, the date -- the great declaration which embodies fairness and equality, and in the constitution, they declared independence, fault the greatest naval power in the world, they won, they wrote the constitution and the bill of rights, making us the freest and greatest nation in the world, grounded in the principle of respect that all people are created equal. that has never been done in the history of the world. when they did that, as i have

told you before, because i love it so much, they also created the great seal of the united states. the great seal of the united states has on it novus order secorum. a new order forever. so confident were our founders and their idea about generational responsibility, they were confident that what they were putting forth would exist for the ages. for the ages. that was the challenge they gave us. that is the responsibility that we have. and for a couple of hundred years or more, that has always been the case. every generation has always believed that it would make the future better for the next, for their children and grandchildren. we are here today because we believe that and we believe that the public policy that we put forth, the legislation we put forth, should result in public policy that makes the future better for our children and our grandchildren.

we are committed to their education, the economic security of our families, a dignified retirement of our seniors, including my being a senior and safety and security of our neighborhoods and country. and that we would do it in a fiscally sound way that does not give our kids any bills, public or personal. if we believe all of that and that is why we are here in congress, it is hard to believe that we're putting our best foot forward with the legislation that comes before us today. i am not happy with it, but i am proud of some of the accomplishments contained in it and that is why i am voting for it.

that takes me to the second question -- why are we here today? why are we here today? within 24 hours of our nation going into defaault. after months of conversation after how we would address the debt ceiling, not to pass future spending, but to pay our future obligations. i will say that time is one of the most important commodities any of us have, the most precious, the most finite. during that period of time, when our country could have been more productive, more optimistic, more confident in the tradition of our founders, instead, a cloud of doubt because of the delay in lifting the debt ceiling. as my distinguished colleague, mr. van hollen, said, this has never happened before.

we have never tied the hands of a president of the united states. we never placed any doubt in the public as to whether this would happen. we never had people around board room tables wondering if we knew the consequences of our own actions. but i am concerned about the board room table. i am more concerned about the kitchen table. this delay and uncertainty has a tremendous impact on america's families. they stood around the table and talk about how they're going to make ends meet, how they are going to pay their bills. his social security going to be taxed for them? will their checks arrive when they do? is medicare or medicaid something they can count on? after months and months to reach an agreement that could have been reached a long time ago -- it is not so great that it took so long to achieve -- it could have been accomplished months ago.

at least have the merits of instilling confidence earlier, sooner, rather than at the latest possible moment. we must make sure that we are -- as we say, why are we here today? that we are not here some other day to go through these motions. that is another reason why i am supporting this bill. the president was successful in impressing upon the congress that we needed the full time, the 18 months, so that people sitting around the americans kitchen table and the board room table, will all know that you can rely on the united states of america to meet its obligations. another reason to support this bill, even though there are plenty of reasons not to, is that it stops cuts in social security, medicare, and medicaid. this is the most important assignment given to democratic leadership, going to the table. make sure there are no cuts in benefits is medicare, medicaid, and social security. that was achieved. another issue of importance to

us is that as we protect and defend our country, we measure our strength in the health, education, and well-being of the american people. we have a 50-50 split between our expenditures for defense and expenditures for strength defined in other ways for our country. these are some reasons why those who may have the luxury of not wanting to vote for the bill, i feel a responsibility to do so. we cannot, because of certain objections in the bill, and one of the main ones is there is not one red cent coming from america's wealthiest families and most successful people. god bless them for their success.

i know that they are willing to do more. not one red cent coming to help reduce the deficit while we are willing to cut title one education for the poorest children in america. that is too bad for those children. it is terrible for our country. again, you can make a list of things in the bill that we do not like and things that are not in the bill, like revenue, but i urge my colleagues to think about our seniors and the 18 months and what that means in terms of confidence in our society and what it means to have the 50-50 in terms of defining the strength of america.

we cannot, despite reluctance to vote for this bill for some of us, allow america's seniors and veterans, who are depending on receiving their checks from the government or their security overtime, we cannot allow our seniors and veterans to be caught in the collateral damage of the assault on the middle- class that is being waged in this congress. this is one manifestation of making it harder for the future so the great middle-class, which is the backbone of our democracy. if we're going to honor the bows of our founders -- vows of our founders and carry on their hope

for the future, that we would last for ages, but we would last for ages as a democracy, not an ever-broadening disparity of income and equity that undermines that democracy. please, my colleagues, if you are on the fence about this, i certainly am and have been even though i worked very hard to support the president in preserving what i said about no cuts to medicare, medicaid, social security about the 18 months and the 50-50 split. please think about what could happen if we defaulted. please come down and favre -- please come down in favor of preventing the collateral damage from reaching our seniors and veterans. i urge you to consider voting yes, but i complete the respect the hesitation that members have about this. again, i want to commend mr. van hollen and the president of the united states, and those who tried to work in a bipartisan way to accomplish something.

i hear their republican colleagues have said they got 98% of what they want in the bill. i hope that their votes will reflect that. with that, i yield back. [applause] >> the gentleman from maryland's time is expired. the gentleman from wisconsin has four minutes remaining. >> i will yield two minutes to the gentleman from texas. >> i thank the gentleman for yielding. >> the american people want more jobs and they want less debt. the american people are telling washington you have got to quit spending money you do not have. you have got to quit borrowing 42 cents on the dollar, much of it from the chinese, and send the bill to our children and grandchildren.

our crisis today is not the debt ceiling, it is our debt and it is a spending-driven debt. that is why we are here today, mr. speaker. i would like to say that this bill solves our problems. it does not. it is a solid first step. nobody, nobody on our side of the aisle, wants to increase this debt ceiling. it is not in our dna. we do believe that, ultimately, you ought to stay current on your bills. you've got to quit spending money you do not have. in this bill, although the sums are very, very small, when we pass this bill, if the president signs it into law, it will be the first time in my lifetime, the first time in my lifetime, that for two years in a row, we have actually cut discretionary spending in washington d.c. and made a very slight direction of change in the right direction.

the numbers are small, the directional change is huge. more importantly, the seeds of the ultimate solution are planted in this bill. that is the balanced budget amendment to the constitution. the american people are not looking for a balanced approach. they're looking for a balanced budget. to have it work, it needs to be enshrined in our constitution. this bill will ensure, for the first time in 15 years, both the house and the senate vote on a balanced budget. those are the seeds of solution to save the next generation of this country. i urge adoption of this bill. >> i will yield myself the remainder of the my time -- of my time. from this debate, it is clear that we have a difference of opinions, different philosophies on how to address these issues.

we are coming to a deadline that we all must recognize, deefault. what this has done is brought our two parties together. i would like to take a second to reflect for a moment, the fact that we have a bipartisan compromise here. it does not happen all that often around here, so i think it is worth noting. that is a good thing. first off, as my colleague from texas has just said, this is a downpayment on the problem. it is a good step in the right direction. it is a huge cultural change to this instution. both parties got us in this mess. both parties are going to have to work together to get us out of this mess.

the real problem, i would add, is the fact that we spend way more money than we take in. we have to address that. to my friends on the left, i think it would take comfort in the way the spending cuts are designed and the way the sequester is designed. to my friends on the right, we are cutting spending. we have been trying to get discretionary it taps into law four years. i have been here 13 years and this is the first time. when we ran congress, we could not even get it with a republican congress. now we are getting discretionary caps. that is a big achievement. we used to rubber-stamp these debt limit increases, sneak them in budget resolutions. now it is out here in plain sight. what are we doing? we are actually cutting spending while we do this. that is cultural. that is significant. that is a big step in the right direction.

we are getting two-thirds of the cuts that we want in our budget. as far as i'm concerned, 66% in the right direction is better than going in the wrong direction. with that, i yield back the balance of my time. >> and have been in the national internal -- white house tips its hand on payroll tax cut. the president talk -- top economic advisers said the president believes the expiring tax should be part of broader fiscal cuts. the chairman of the white house council of economic advisers said the payroll tax cut has helped middle-class families. this helped support the economy and support consumption. tax revisions expiring at the end of the year. the president has said the payroll tax cut should be on the table. you can see his comments coming

up in 2 1/2 hours. while the budget agreement -- there were a number of house members critical of the legislation. house democrats progressive caucus was one of those groups that did not support the measure, saying it would heard honorable americans. members of the caucused spoke to reporters after the august 2011 vote. >> hello, ladies and in the of the press. i am co-chair of the progressive caucus. also joined by barbara lee. and maxine waters. ranking member of the subcommittee on financial- services.

i have a statement from the progressive caucus i would like to share with you. while voting to increase the debt ceiling is a necessary step, the deficit reduction measures included in this deal will further harm our economy and herbert american spirit with unemployment above 9% and stagnate economic growth, taking out of the economy money that will only place a heavier burden on working families. this is the wrong approach for our economy at the wrong time. it goes against our basic values. for that reason, we and many of our members of the progressive caucus will be voting no. progressives are committed to prosperity for the working class and the belief reasonable deficit reduction can be achieved while advancing our values. today's step that -- deficit reduction deal falls short. it spends more to support

billionaires' and corporations. tea party republicans have held our economy hostage to those demands. there is a reduction should be enacted -- should not be enacted in a house style situation. we have said default on the full faith the credit of the united states is not acceptable. if this bill is defeated, we urge the president to use his power under the 14th amendment and executive authority to raise the debt ceiling to avoid defaults. we will continue to fight for programs that help working families. during recent weeks, the progressive caucus stood with millions to protect social security, medicare, and medicaid from being cut in the deal being voted on today. preventing the worst from happening is not enough. americans will not stand by while their livelihood comes under attack. we can judge for the economy in a way that benefits everybody, not just the special interests and the extremely wealthy. we can articulate a vision for our country not based on what americans cannot djibo what it

can. that is the type of leadership american needs. with that, i want to invite michael chair -- my co chair raul grijalva. >> thank you. there is disappointment in the deal. frustration. frustration at the items we wanted to put on the agenda that needed to be heard in terms of revenue generation. concerns we have had an expressed dealing with the commission, its powers, and the trigger mechanisms that are part of the steel. and the negotiations from the inception seem to place vital domestic programs on the block in the areas we indicated needed to be looked at, the tax breaks for corporations and

individuals, were left off the table. that frustration is not just one built out of the idea that we deny get our way. it is built out of the concept that we offer these over and over. and to present a balanced and fair package. shared sacrifice, we believe that the the concept. you believed that a compromise. but we do not believe it that the concept that is not a compromise that is all taken no give. we feel this is not a compromise and as such, we will stand in opposition to it. we feel that there is a better way. we can proceed and to a call, rational way to look at spending and revenue generation.

after that, we are trapped in the tea party agenda. they should be able to deliver the votes they need to pass what is essentially their packets. let me introduce barbara lee, who was been a leader of the progressive caucus and former chair of the black caucus and one of the voices we depend on in this congress to raise the issue for average americans and working folk. >> to give very much. -- thank you very much. let me thank you for bringing together the progressive caucus to come forward and be the voice of the american people. none of us want to see our nation default. after having reviewed this deal in detail, i am simply unable to support it. i associate myself with all the remarks that have been made already. it fails to address the urgent and most pressing crises in our country -- the lack of jobs and economic growth.

and it time when investments are needed to jump-start our economy and put people back to work, i believe this deal and its approach is the wrong approach. allowing the link between a debt ceiling and the deficit to gain any credibility was a mistake. as we stand here today, a clean debt ceiling vote and it reasonable and balanced approach to deficit reduction is what has been long required. all i can appreciate some provisions to limit the impact of the cuts include the, the bill falls short of achieving a balance necessary. the harsh reality is the cut of this size will likely result in massive coal -- cuts to vital human needed safety net programs and will cripple our ability to help the most volatile communities, including seniors, the poor, and low income people struggling each day just to get by. it includes no revenue and no

guarantee of revenue is going forward. but over 45 million people living in poverty and the wealth gap and astronomical levels and that the communities of colors, we must demand the super rich and big corporations that enjoy a tax giveaways and the polls tend to agree to this deficit reduction. it is unacceptable to me that this deal with open the door to cut in social security, medicare and medicaid. enough is enough. we cannot allow the extreme tea party republicans too objects -- advance their agenda to dismantle our government while rewarding their extreme tactics with this bad deal. i continue to support the president using the 14th amendment, if necessary, to raise the debt ceiling. i will be voting no. thank you. >> i am from california. we voted for clean debt ceiling

increase this spring. be voted over the weekend for the reid compromise at that time, we said we would not vote for anything worse than the reid compromise. this is worse today. i and those standing with me are not going to hold our nose once more and bulk of the bill that is wrong. i will not vote for this bill. this not a balanced approach to controlling spending. it does not ask for shared sacrifice. it put virtually the entire burden of working families and the middle-class while asking nothing from billionaires', millionairess, hitched and he -- and huge corporations and corporation that then jobs overseas. this bill does nothing to

address the single greatest challenge we face today -- creating jobs. ordinary americans who are barely getting by, struggling to pay the bills, who go to bed were read every single night. this still has nothing offer them. i cannot believe something as routine as the debt ceiling is being used to export to $0.50 trillion in cuts from investments that the american people need. we can reduce spending without taking it out of ordinary people. they did not cause this deficit. it is not their responsibility to fix it. we can meet our fiscal challenges in a way that is fair and within our constitutional rights and with all americans doing their part. i will vote against the bill today or to our -- today or tomorrow, whenever it comes to the floor. >> i think my colleagues have basically articulated the

feelings of the progress of community in this country. i will like to thank mr. ellison and grilava for their leadership and work have been consistently in leading the progressive caucus. this deal that was cut is very disappointing. for a number of reasons. i cannot understand how we could walk out of a deal to raise the limits, the debt ceiling, not having gotten any revenues in the deal. all we have our cuts. i am reminded this is a very fragile economy. fragile than the sum many ways. the unemployment rates are astronomical wary --

astronomical. 9.2% in this team -- in this country. in minority communities, 70% and up. when you add to that the loss of wealth by latinos, 63% loss ended a household wealth and with african-americans, over 50% loss. we need to talk about stimulating the economy. think about this -- instead of stimulating the economy, we are about to take federal money out of the economy. there will be a loss of jobs with these cuts and that is no way to deal with this predicament we are in. i am also very disappointed that we have allowed the tea party to drive this deal. it seems to me that what we have here is a small number of people who have held hostage not

only their own caucus but they're holding the democratic party and the american people hostage with the threat of not allowing us to lift the ceiling -- the debt ceiling, and using this as a way to dismantle this budget. i'm very disappointed that our negotiators were not tough enough. they did not do the work to bring them to the point where everybody could agree that we do not want to default. so here we are today with some of the worst public policy i think ever could have been made in the history of this institution to read a lot of people are going to be hurt. the economy is going to be even more fragile and our citizens are going to not only feel the loss of jobs and lost opportunity, this will be for

years to come. i think the progressive caucus for standing tall and thin and strong. >> this is not the first time the progressive caucus has taken a leadership role on some very tough issues. i lived through a managed to see as segregated america where people lived separately and were treated differently i simply want to give this restatement -- it is not really about the member standing here represent a number of constituents, advocacy groups. it is really about whether america want their country to continue in this pathway where they want change. never in my lifetime that think that was going to see the tyranny of the minority. that is the voices that have been strident, popularized by the media, that have been seen as the darlings of change.

they are not the darlings of change. they are simply individuals who want to say my way or the highway. my message is this -- there will be votes coming up on this issue into the fall. question is whether america is going to rise up and rushed to this capital and city and announced that enough is enough and that all the voices of the minority should be heard, that they have a right under this flag. they will not control this nation in the most disgraceful way they have done to undermine those who cannot speak for themselves. that is what we are facing today and some have some tough decisions to make. >> we are at we103 before we vote. maybe we can get to questions and catch up later. rex unified in protecting the deal? >> we have not put it to a

person but by all indications, we have a -- most of them are dissatisfied and many will be voting no. >> are you prepared to take partial responsibility? but the answer is a definitive no. all of us up here voted for a clean debt ceiling. you voted for reid. 18 times, reagan asked for and got a clean vote on the debt ceiling. bush got seven. it is the normal course of congress to raise the debt ceiling with these questions are before them. we all have done it and are prepared to do it. but joe was to this point -- is beyond dispute that the coupling with that silly reduction is what got us here. we have been the ones fighting for the economy.

we are at about zero now. one more than half ago. >> , as the watchers said the negotiators were not tough enough. >> president obama has been given a hand to fight from. he was the president at the time these people may be unreasonable demands to undermine and heard basic social services and had social security, medicare, and medicaid in their sight. if we have any dispute, it is tactical. in principle, we know that these are core democratic values. core american values to stand up for. we do support the president in using his constitutional executive authority to protect the full faith and credit of the united states. he has our full support on that.

with that, we have to go vote. thank you very much. >> that was from august 2011. we have in number recent advance about the fiscal cliff on our web site, including the simpson bowles deficit reduction plan. appearing with two federal former reserve chairman. all that at cspan.org. now a short interview on the basics and what the fiscal cliff marines. rex -- >> thank you for being with us. you are on c-span radio. what can we expect this week? the president's spending part of the weekend calling the principles. what are we looking at? rex in the week ahead, we have been having meetings aside from the one at the white house and telephone conversations, we have

largely seen beatings -- meetings and they will probably continue in the days and weeks ahead. we are looking to see if there is substantial progress on coming to a free market can put together for a deal before christmas which is the next sort of deadline that people seem to be setting up. >> some of the news from this fund a program. republicans opening up the door for the possibility of raising taxes at a certain level. democrats are being pressured by republicans to put entitlements, especially medicare and medicaid. where does that stand? >> that has been talked about throughout this conversation going back for a couple of years now since we started all this.

there have been conversations that and bawled republicans sinks -- saying they would come to the table with new revenue in exchange for some sort of reform of entitlement programs, trying to ben cost care with respect to medicare, maybe some indexing. someone to raise the retirement age for medicare beneficiaries. eventually all those things that are not necessarily popular with democrats. i think we are seeing more of the same. it is a question of whether or not each side will give in on the parts they do not like. >> we are hearing from a lot of retiring members. you have a story available on line with joe lieberman, and depended from connecticut. what is his advice? >> senator lieberman is one of

the people lewis had a plan with oklahoma republican tom coburn that would have some kind of medicare adjustment. he is one of the lawmakers who really wants there to be a deal done. the time for kicking the can has come to an end. he also says he thinks the senate itself need to make changes in the way it does business so things can get them more efficiently. part of the problem we face right now is precipitated by the way the senate operates as a body. it's sort of lens itself to this kind of problem. >> is this a workmanlike approach the two democrats and republicans? is there a sense they're getting some things accomplished at the staff level to present to

principle to work out final details? >> to be honest, at least early to know whether or not there has been much progress made. a lot of this is rehashing things we have seen in earlier camp -- earlier discussions, whether it was at the super committee or a group of talks chaired by voice -- vice- president biden. in some ways, this is a lot of repackaging pieces we have already seen. maybe someone will come up was something that is brand new, the piece that puts the whole puzzle together of a sudden. but i am not so sure that is action going to happen. it looks like a lot of rearranging existing proposals. >> the election is out of the way. the that take away one big political argument that we saw before the november elections? >> certainly, that is what democrats particularly would like to be the case. they think they have, in

retaining the presidency with president obama and picking up senate seats, that they have a bit of leverage going forward, particularly on the question of taxes for the upton income filers. republicans, some of whom rejected sort of idea. but that seems to be the way the democrats have hoped king will go. >> joining us on capitol hill tonight. thank you for being with us. his work available online at rollcall.com. >> tuesday, senator dick durbin, will talk about efforts in the senate to resolve the fiscal cliff. we will bring you his speech live starting at 11:30 a.m. eastern. in an interview, eric cantor said republicans were showing

openness in a deficit-reduction program. now we hear from republican leaders talking to reporters. >> good afternoon, everyone. in january, our first week that we were sworn into office, the president ask for an increase in the debt ceiling. i made clear that time there will be no increase in the debt ceiling without the the cuts to spending and changes to the way we spend the american people's money. surely after that, i was in new york and gave a speech where i

outlined at about the spending cuts should exceed the amount of the debt limit increase and there should be no taxes as part of this agreement. look at what we have been able to achieve, we have met those two standard outlined. we have made promises to the american people that our kids and grand kids cannot afford. we have listened to the american people. we have a real interest mckeon for be denied it into -- and that we often have a bell of the mammoth constitution. if you look at the structure of the balanced budget issues in this agreement, it gives us the best shot we have had in the 20 years i have been here. to put the kind of fiscal

handcuffs on this congress that are sorely needed. we have been operating under -- and never got ourselves into the mess we are in. but this is really important for our fiscal future and the fact that our economy needs to get going. beginning to take steps towards this king -- fixing our fiscal programs, the people we expect to reinvest in our economy and create jobs. >> the house will vote on the measure today that although not perfect will begin to change the culture here in washington. for too many decades now on the part of both parties, this time is spent money. by sending to the congress this year 87 republicans, the american people have changed

that and the direction of this country. it said the bill is not perfect but changing the way washington spends taxpayer dollars is often a lot like we directing our turning an aircraft carrier. it is a monumental task. i think in my experience throughout the last couple of months, i had been embroiled in a lot of discussions surrounding this issue. from day one, this administration has been insistent that we raise taxes to solve this problem. i think the bid win here for us is the fact that there are other tax hikes in this package. but so many people out of work, the middle-class hoping for more jobs, the last thing we -- -- the last thing we need right now our tax hikes. i can tell you flat out, i

insist that now is not the time for us to be considering tax hikes when this over 9% employment and to many are out of work. >> what a difference one year makes. the year ago, washington thought this needed more spending. that they need more government. the election to the fundamental change. now congress has opened up. you watch the ideas have come to the floor they have to be debated. you watched the leadership from this house. this bill does not give all the answers. this bill does bring accountability. and spending controls. if you start at the beginning of this debate, they wanted to

increase its 2.4% with no cuts to anything else. we were at a crossroads. this is a fundamental change of this government, for this country, but it is only a start. >> the american people have said there are too few jobs and too much debt. as the legislation that the house will still vote upon, i believe held to address both of those concerns. as our whip said once the debate started, there are certification -- still those that cause certain jobs and the federal government. it will not happen with this

piece of legislation. but the first time in my life, a government discretionary spending will go down two years in a row. the numbers relative to the problem are minimal. the direction of change is huge. what i hear from job creators is we are worried about this debt. we know what they will have to pay for it. it is when the great actors of uncertainty and lack a conference -- contributes to the high rate of unemployment. for many of us who did not want to raise the debt ceiling, we

now in this piece of legislation plant the seeds for the ultimate solution. that is to compel the house, compel the senate to vote on the first balanced budget amendment to the constitution in 15 years. families have to do it, small businesses have to do it. 49 of 50 states have the requirement to do it. the american people expect nothing less out of their federal government. a ford to taking that debate on the balanced budget amendment to the people of america and having it reported out to the states soon. i cannot help but think about where we were a year ago when congress was passing records programs and spending and a proven record deficits. today we completely change

course. we are debating now how much we can cut. and what programs we can reduce. i view this as a significant step in to the right direction. when you ask yourself is this plan going to help get our fiscal house in order, i believe the answer is yes. i will be supporting this plan. >> think about where we were into the beginning of the process. we have the president asking for a blank check. he did not get that. then a big tax increase on top traders. he did not get that. we said every dollar debt increase, yet to cut and balance the spending. begot that. we have been tried to get spending caps in losses i have been here for 13 years. we have been introducing

legislation to the last eight years to get caps on spending. that's important. we see this as a good step and to the right direction. a huge change in of the culture of spending. we are cutting spending. we are spending much -- less money this time of year. you have not heard that devastated before this time of year. we have a long ways to go. we do believe the value of this republican majority has been a change of this culture. we used to have the gephardt will. you can sleep a debt ceiling increase into a budget resolution and no one would really have to be seen voting for it.

what we did is use this as an opportunity to change the culture and spending. that is what this bill does. >> i this met with the members of our armed services committee. they clearly have some concerns about the defense members in this bill. as i told them, this is the best room i believe many of our members will support the work of the house. >> leader pelosi indicated it will be on you to bring in majority of votes.

>> i would remind all of the this is not just an agreement between the president, and myself. this is an agreement between the bipartisan leaders of the congress and president of the united states. all the leaders have responsibility because they have signed off to bring sufficient votes to make sure passes. >> usage cannot cut -- you said you could not place caps. when you put some been like that out there, what is your argument to them? >> is -- this is what we have been looking for for years. at the end of the day, this bill will prevail. this gets two-thirds of the cut of the discretionary spending be

are looking for in our budget. if we get 100%, we have two- thirds. i will take 2/3 in my direction than anything else. >> do they want all or nothing? rex you will have to ask those who feel that way. >> what information have you gotten from mcconnell? >>." we have talked about our appointees for this committee. we have not made any decisions. i am sure we will continue to of conversations about appointees to the committee. >> what would you tell leaders are candidates of your own party but mark michele bachmann

says the to put $4 trillion -- would be right? >> michael is to get this bill passed, signed into law, decide the debt crisis -- my job is to get this bill passed, signed into law, and deal with the debt crisis. rex that was from 16 months ago. part of our look back at what has led to the current fiscal debate. negotiations continue between president obama and professional leaders. a. in the hill -- a headline in the hill. the president has named elise

walter as her replacement. tim geithner will also leave the ministration. that will be near the date of president obama's inauguration. now we hear from democratic minority leader nancy pelosi and other democrats following the debt ceiling vote a in august 2011. she focuses on jobs and the economy. >> good afternoon. we just completed a very lively leadership meeting of the house democrats were we talked about the democrats, the necessity of

democrats to save the day yesterday, pulling our country back from the brink of default. we seek medicare, medicaid, and social security. you'll be hearing more about that. yesterday we crossed a bridge. enough talk about the debt ceiling, we have to talk about jobs. every time i had met with you, we started with, a days it has been since the republicans had been in office. today is 210 cheered we have not seen legislation yet that has created jobs -- 210 and we have not seen legislation yet that has created jobs. more than 9000 jobs a day with a lot of republicans legislation were signed into law.

we will be hearing more about that from my colleague. jobs, jobs, jobs. you cannot say it enough. i really like what and willie nelson said -- american people are concerned about a ceiling over their head then raising the debt ceiling. we know we need to do both. i was pleased to give the president -- to see the president talked about how we create jobs and meet the needs of the american people. some of his suggestions have very strong support in our caucus, whether it is and for stricter, rebuilding our country, make it in america. mr. hoyer will talk to us about make it in america everybody has been intensely involved.

the american people stop rarity is the accretion of dollars. priority is creating jobs. now it is time to talk about jobs. a person who has been a leader will tell you about it, mr. hoyer. >> thank you very much. let me suggest that talking about jobs is talking about the debt. the only way we will successfully deal with debt is to create jobs and economic growth in america. we know that but